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The concept of sustainable cities is closely
interconnected with environment and economy and the safeguard
of natural resources, which in turn leads to minimum acceptable
quality of life. There is a constant struggle with issues of
air pollution, congestion of human population and availability
of open, green spaces. Strong, healthy, liveable cities depend
on a healthy environment, a robust economy and ample employment
opportunities for its population.
Before we go into details of what a sustainable
city entails, it is important to understand the meaning of sustainability
in the human context that involves sustainable development. Human
endeavor focuses on certain basic assumptions such as a good
income, livelihoods that give meaning to life, production of
goods and services for basic needs, creation of purchasing power,
regeneration of a resource base, care of the environment, control
on demographic transitions from the rural to the urban sector, and empowerment and employment for women. Thus, a sustainable city
can be defined as one that is able to provide the basic needs
of the population along with the necessary infrastructure of
civic amenities, health and medical care, housing, education,
transportation, employment, good governance, etc. It should take
care of the population's needs and all sections of society without discrimination. As it pertains to
conditions in India, due emphasis would be in controlling population and
providing housing to the impoverished sections of society who
live in sub-human conditions in slums, eking out livelihoods
below the minimum wages and creating environmental degradation.
Burgeoning population also leads to exploitation, crime and lawlessness
due to shrinking job opportunities. For example, the population of Delhi
increases by 400,000
people every year due to migration, putting a question mark
on the sustainability of this capital metropolis. This alarming
increase in population puts an unacceptable strain on housing,
employment, healthcare, water and electricity. Large "green"
areas are converted to housing colonies leading to environmental
degradation.
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What
is a sustainable city?
India
Argentina
Sweden
Central
Europe |
