Environmental Challenges in Urban India- An Analysis

Probably most of the environmental problems of the next century will result from the continuation and sharpening of existing problems that currently do not receive enough political attention. The problems are not necessarily noticed in many countries or then nothing is done even the situation has been detected. Urbanization is closely linked to modernization, industrialization, and the sociological process of rationalization. Urbanization is not merely a modern phenomenon, but a rapid and historic transformation of human social roots on a global scale, whereby predominantly rural culture is being rapidly replaced urban culture. Growth of Industries especially service sector had contributed to the growth of cities. As a result of industrialization people have started moving towards the industrial areas in search of employment. This has resulted in the growth of towns and cities from tier 1 to tier 3 leading to occupy areas like dried tanks, lakes and other places. Cities in developing countries become over-populated and over-crowded partly as a result of the increase in population over the decades and partly as a result of migration. Due to uncontrolled urbanization in India, environmental degradation has been occurring very rapidly and causing many problems like land insecurity, worsening water quality, excessive air pollution, noise pollution, the problems of waste disposal, Global warming, climate change, deforestration etc. Although it is impossible to restrict urbanization it has to be ensured that urbanization proceeds in the right path causing minimum impact on environment. The available remedies in the form of polluter pay principle under the Constitution¹ cannot be considered as an alternative. This paper focus on the remedies available to regulate environmental challenges arise out of urbanization. This paper seeks to review the effects of fast growing urbanization in Indian society through analysis of its multi-dimensional impact and also suggest measures to reduce the impact of rapid urbanization on environment.