BLUEPRINT FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF

Abstract

An integrated urban and rural planning is needed for sustainable development and this can be created through provision of urban amenities in rural areas and development of self sustaining satellite cities: GEORGE K KURUVILA. "Sustainable Development" is described as "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs". (Brundtland Commission Report accepted by World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987). By this simple accepted definition: Is the present development in and around our metropolitan cities "sustainable"? With our under stressed infrastructure in our metropolitan cities with its excessive traffic, pollution resulting in health problems to millions of its citizens, slum developments with its unhygienic conditions, lack of green lung open space, pedestrian movement systems, power, water supply and urban ecological balance, the answer/future is clearly staring us in the face. The vital issue is what are the authorities going to do about our present "unsustainable development" in and around our expanding metros? On the other hand, does the existing condition in our rural areas meet the present needs of its rural inhabitants, whereby the endless flow of migrants to urban areas may be stopped or even reversed? Clearly, the present development trend in both urban and rural development patterns is lacking in fulfilling the above definition and detrimental. How can we change course towards "sustainable development" in both urban and rural areas? The present scenario in India's urban/rural population is currently about 28 per cent urban and 72 per cent rural. In developed countries (e.g. in Europe, USA, Canada) the proportions are approximately reverse i.e., 20 per cent to 25 per cent live in rural areas whereas 75 per cent to 80 per cent are urbanized. It is the goal of most development parameters to increase India's urban population to 50 per cent say in another 20 years time (world average urban/rural population was estimated 50:50 in year 2000); i.e. by 2025, our objective would be to more than double the present total urbanisation (taking also into account the natural increase in population). This means the need for approximately doubling the present amount of urban infrastructure, housing etc. just to come to a 50:50 urban to rural parity.