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International Journal on Emerging Technologies 8(1): 127-129(2017)

ISSN No. (Print) : 0975-8364

ISSN No. (Online) : 2249-3255

Impact of Urbanization on Environment

Mohit Singh Rai
Student of B. Tech Urban and Regional Planning 5th Sem,
Guru Ram Das School of Planning, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, (Punjab), INDIA
(Corresponding author: Mohit Singh Rai)
(Received 26 December, 2016 accepted 15 January, 2017)
(Published by Research Trend, Website: www.researchtrend.net)
ABSTRACT: Urbanization refers to general increase in population and the amount of industrialization of a
settlement. It symbolizes the movement of people from rural to urban areas. Urbanization happens because
of the increase in the extent and density of urban areas. 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 and the problems of waste disposal. This paper
emphasizes on the effect of urbanization on environmental components mainly public health and habitat,
climate, biosphere, land and water resources. A case study of urbanization in India has been carried out
leading to conclude on the existing causes of damage to the environment due to urbanization. Although it is
impossible to restrict urbanization it has to be ensured that urbanization proceeds in the right path causing
minimum impact on environment.
I. INTRODUCTION
Although India is one of the less urbanized countries of • Proximity to administration and important
the world with only 27.78 percent of population living government offices.
in towns, India is facing a serious crisis of urban growth Due to these reasons, such an increase in urban
at present time whereas urbanization has been an population induces a lumber of environmental
instrument of economic, social and political progress, it problems.
has led to serious socio-economic problems.
Urbanization is a process that leads to the growth of III. MAJOR PROBLEMS OF URBANIZATION IN
cities due to industrialization and economic INDIA
development. The population is growing at the rate of
about 17 million annually which mean a staggering
45,000birth per day and 31 births per minute. If the
current trend continues by the year 2050, India would
have 1620 million populations. Due to controlled
urbanization in India, environmental degradation has
been occurring very rapidly and causing many problems
like shortage of houses, water quality, excessive air
pollution, noise, dust and heat, problems of disposal of
wastes, etc. which causes serious health problems.
II. REASONS OF URBANIZATION
As per data available, about 50% of total world
population is residing in urban areas in the beginning of
21st Century. The increasing trend of urban population
is due to:
• Better employment facilities, medical facilities,
• Better facilities for trade and commerce,
• Better facilities for higher education,
Fig. 1. Major Problems of Urbanization.
• Facilities for entertainment, sports & games,
 Rai 128
IV. IMPACTS OF URBANISATION ON
D. Unusual Rise in Temperature
ENVIRONMENT
The unplanned construction of large buildings in urban
The sheer magnitude of the urban population, areas absorbs solar radiation and in the afternoon, these
haphazard and unplanned growth of urban areas, and a emit heat radiations increasing the climatic pressure. As
desperate lack of infrastructure are the main causes of a result year 2015 was the hottest year from last years.
such a situation. The rapid growth of urban population Cities often receive more rain than the surrounding
both natural and through migration, has put heavy countryside since dust can provoke the condensation of
pressure on public utilities like housing, sanitation, water vapor into rain droplets.
transport, water, housing, sanitation, transport, water,
E. Management of Solid Waste
electricity, health, education, and so on.
Thickly populated urban area consumes large quantities
Poverty, unemployment and under employment among
of material and simultaneously releases a lot of solid
the rural immigrants, beggary, thefts, dacoities,
wastes. The solid wastes include municipal wastes,
burglaries and other social evils are on rampage. Urban
industrial wastes, hazardous wastes etc. The solid waste
sprawl is rapidly encroaching the precious agricultural
production increases with an increase in population foul
land. The population of India had already crossed the
smell and poisonous gases and become breeding
285 million mark by 2001. By 2030, more than 50
grand’s of vectors of different diseases. The gases
percent of India’s population is expected to live in poor
produced cause air pollution, surface run-off from the
environment. The impact of all this growth on space,
wastes causes water pollution and vector causes
environment and quality of life will be, to say the least,
different diseases.
tremendous. The provision of infrastructural facilities
required to support such large concentration of F. Development of Slums
population is lagging far behind the pace of The areas within the cities and towns without civic and
urbanization. As a consequence, the urban environment, basic amenities are called Slums. The slum settlement
particularly in large cities, is deteriorating very rapidly. arises due to un-flux of rural peoples into urban areas
Some important environmental problems are discussed and shortage of housing facilities for them. They
below: construct their dwellings using rusted tins, empty tar
barrels, jute sacks, etc. Although these areas become
A. Over Exploitation of Natural Resources
overcrowded, these lack civic amenities like light, water
Due to high population density and expensive life style,
supply, drainage, roads, toilets and medical facilities.
the rate of consumption of natural resources (e.g. water,
The areas of slums become centers of a number of
energy, fossil fuel, forest products etc.) is very high in
environmental problems. Some important problems
urban areas. There is also misuse of natural resources
may be outlined as follows:
whose immediate compensation becomes difficult. Few
(i) These areas without proper water supply dispose
acute problems of urban areas are scarcity of drinking
their waste in an unplanned manner which pollutes air
water especially the ground water, scarcity of forest
and water.
products, power cut due to excessive use of electricity
(ii) The contamination of water causes diseases like
etc.
typhoid, cholera, enteric fever, etc.
B. Air Pollution (iii) The unplanned waste dumping places and open
The air of urban areas get polluted due to a lot of defecation become the sites of the growth of a number
anthropogenic activities, flying of large number of of disease carriers like flies, mosquitoes, etc. These
automobiles, industries etc. These activities release cause health hazards not only in slum areas but also in
pollutants like carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, oxides other nearby places.
of nitrogen, oxides of sulphur, hydrocarbons, vapours
V. URBANIZATION IN INDIA
of organic compounds, particulates, and toxic metals
etc. which are capable of including a number of health The pattern and trend of urban population and number
hazards. of towns in India during 1901 to 2001 shows that total
urban population has increased more than ten times
C. Noise Pollution
from 26 million to 285 million, whereas total
The noise produced from automobiles, vehicles, social
population has increased less than five times from 238
functions, industries etc. cause noise pollution in urban
million to 1027 million from 1901 to 2001. (Table 1).
areas which causes psychological and physical
ailments.
 Rai 129
Table 1: Pattern and Trend of Urbanization in India, 1901 – 2001.

.The figure 2: depicts clearly that the urban population health hazards and worst devastation. So this is the
increases very rapidly which is huge difference between responsibility of government take necessary steps to
1901 population to 2001 population which increases prevent the environment by taking plausible solutions
environmental problems. and also the planners should also concentrate on these
views while planning and protect the environment.
300 Urban Population (in millions) REFERENCES
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VI. CONCLUSION
An Occupational Analysis and Case for Integration in
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case adequate steps are not taken to prevent pollution
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