Font size:
Print
Urbanisation in India’s Hills: Persistent Challenges and Plausible Pathways
Context:
India’s urbanisation and development are rapidly changing the landscape of its cities. As the country grows economically, particularly within the Global South, urban areas are playing a significant role in driving GDP growth. However, urbanisation also brings challenges, especially in relation to liveability, climate change, and infrastructure.
India’s Rapid Urbanisation and Associated Challenges:
- Projected Urban Growth: India’s urban population is expected to grow significantly by 2050, bringing both opportunities and challenges in terms of infrastructure, resources, and sustainability.
- Livability Concerns: Urbanisation leads to issues like:
- Affordable Housing: There is a shortage of affordable housing, and public investment is often lacking.
- Pollution: Cities face significant pollution challenges, impacting health and quality of life.
- Need for Improved Infrastructure and Planning
- Infrastructure Planning: Proper infrastructure planning, especially for storm-water management, is essential for reducing urban vulnerability to climate impacts.
- Nature-Based Solutions: Using nature-based solutions, such as wetlands and green spaces, can help cities adapt to climate change more effectively.
- Expanding Focus Beyond Tier-1 Cities: India needs to focus not only on major cities (Tier-1) but also on smaller cities (Tier-2 and Tier-3) to ensure balanced and sustainable growth.
Government Initiatives:
- Tailored Interventions for Different City Tiers: Different strategies are needed for different city tiers to manage urban sprawl and ecological impacts effectively.
- Role of AMRUT and SCM: Programs like AMRUT and the Smart Cities Mission are focusing on sustainable urban development in smaller cities to reduce the pressure on large metropolitan areas.
- Stakeholder Engagement for Urban Health: Engaging local stakeholders is crucial to improving urban health and ensuring ecosystem sustainability.
Focus on the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR):
- Geographical Scope: The Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) spans 13 states and two hill districts, rich in biodiversity but vulnerable to climate change.
- Climate Vulnerabilities: The IHR faces climate challenges like landslides, cloudbursts, and floods, which are worsening due to human activities and climate change.
- Impact of Natural Disasters: Natural disasters in the IHR have high financial and social costs, underscoring the need for effective risk management.
- Vulnerability Index and Regional Comparisons: The IHR is highly vulnerable, particularly in hilly areas, and needs targeted urban planning to manage these risks.
Challenges of Urban Expansion in Hill Cities:
- Appeal of Hill Cities: Hill cities in North India, like Shimla and Dehradun, are attractive due to their natural beauty and cool climate, which also drives economic growth through tourism and residential development.
- Geophysical Vulnerabilities: These cities are prone to risks like landslides and earthquakes, further exacerbated by rapid urbanisation and deforestation.
- Impact of Growing Tourism: Tourism places pressure on local resources and infrastructure, threatening the region’s ecological balance.
- Need for Integrated Urban Planning: Urban planning in hill cities must balance economic development, biodiversity conservation, and disaster risk management.
Urbanisation’s Impact on Ecology and Natural Resources:
- Geological Hazards in Hilly Regions: Geological hazards like flash floods and landslides are common in hilly areas, exacerbated by urbanisation and climate change.
- Constraints of Land Availability: The steep and fragile terrain makes land development in the IHR difficult, leading to increased risks of soil erosion and landslides.
- Decline in Green Cover: Urbanisation is causing a loss of green cover, increasing vulnerability to ecological disasters like landslides.
- Impact of Urbanisation on Local Ecosystems: Urbanisation is straining local ecosystems, disrupting habitat quality and increasing the urban heat island effect.
- Environmental Risks in Specific Regions: Cities like Darjeeling and Joshimath are facing significant pollution and environmental risks due to unregulated urban growth.
Recommendations for Sustainable Urban Management
- Earthquake-Resistant Infrastructure: Building codes should be strengthened in seismic zones to ensure buildings can withstand earthquakes, especially in the IHR.
- Sponge Cities for Water Management: The “sponge city” model, which uses green infrastructure to manage water, can help reduce flood risks and improve water availability.
- Polycentric/Joint Management: A polycentric development model, focusing on multiple centres of growth, can help manage urban expansion in hilly cities and preserve natural areas.
- Leveraging Technology: Technology, including GIS and data-driven approaches, should be integrated into urban planning for more informed and effective decision-making.
Conclusion: Sustainable Solutions for Hilly Cities
- Opportunity for Sustainable Urbanisation: Hill cities offer an opportunity to address urbanisation challenges while meeting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities) and Goal 13 (Climate Action).
- Distinct Policy Outlook for Hilly Regions: A separate policy for hilly regions is needed to address their unique challenges, ensuring sustainable development and stability.
- Learning from Northeast Success: Best practices from cities like Shillong, Aizawl, and Kohima, which have successfully managed climate vulnerabilities, can guide other regions.
