The urban millenium

You are never gonna believe this, but its true. India is getting urbanised at a faster rate than the rest of the world. While today India’s urban areas hold less than 30 per cent of its population, by 2030 they will contain 40.7 per cent, i.e some 590 million urbanities. Check out the UNFP website http://www.unfpa.org/swp/2007/english/introduction.htm that talks about the “Dawn of an Urban Millennium.”

And while we might be all ready to embrace and celebrate our “urbaness”, our cities are reeling under the inevitable pressures generated by this urbanisation process. Destruction of natural streams, lakes and vegetation, haphazard city planning, freak weather patterns and most importantly improper maintenance of drains have all increased the frequency of flash floods in our cramped.
In 2005, 10 major cities in India suffered recurring and prolonged floods. And in 2006 this number increased to over 20 cities. For more on the flood situation in south Asia and India check out this report by http://www.southasiandisasters.net at this address http://www.southasiadisasters.net/downloads/snet/snet-17.pdf.
or mail me at cooshalle.samuel@hindustntimes.com.