Urbanisation PDF

# Urbanisation ## Let's Learn * Causes of urbanisation * Impact of urbanisation * Smart Cities ## Jump Start * Which types of settlements are represented in these pictures? * What differences can you spot between the two settlements? * Where would you like to live and why? ## Urbanisation Over...

# Urbanisation ## Let's Learn * Causes of urbanisation * Impact of urbanisation * Smart Cities ## Jump Start * Which types of settlements are represented in these pictures? * What differences can you spot between the two settlements? * Where would you like to live and why? ## Urbanisation Over time, when people migrate from rural areas to towns and cities for better standard of living, it results in the growth of urban population. This process is known as **urbanisation**. Thus, the process by which there is a transformation in society, from rural to urban population, it is known as urbanisation. Urbanisation leads to an increase in the proportion of people living in the urban areas compared to the rural areas. One of the first evidences of urbanisation in the world is dated back to the Harappan civilisation. They moved from place to place in search of development, better living, etc. In modern India, the process of urbanisation found a new meaning with the arrival of the British. The Britishers, with the help of Portuguese, Dutch and the French, changed the process of urbanisation in India. ## Examples of Urbanisation * Three metropolitan port cities - Bombay (Mumbai), Calcutta (Kolkata), and Madras (Chennai). * Chain of hill stations - Shimla, Mussoorie, etc. * Industrial cities - Dhanbad, Asansol, etc. ## Causes of Urbanisation There are various reasons that lead to urbanisation. Let us discuss each one of them: 1. **Development of industries** which provide wide scope for employment has resulted in migration of people from rural areas to urban areas. 2. **Cities provide better educational facilities** that attract students for higher and better education. 3. **Due to accessibility of advanced and better healthcare facilities**, such as qualified and trained doctors hospitals, etc, people from rural areas, migrate and settle down in the urban areas. 4. **Cities and towns offer higher wages and income to workers** such as vendors, street food sellers, masons, etc. 5. **Cities provide better communication and transport facilities** such as airports, railway junctions, etc. 6. **Modern amenities and lifestyle** such as shopping centres, movie theatres, restaurants, clubs, etc. lure people towards urban areas. **Give Reason** In cities, people have to adapt themselves to the latest trends. Thus, people come out of rigid social norms and become more flexible. Sometimes, **natural disasters** such as flood, earthquake, etc. also results in migration of people from rural to urban areas in search of food and shelter. * The above reasons have led to the growth of urban population in the past few years which is still increasing. According to a research by the United Nations, the urban population had increased from 751 million in 1950 to 4.2 billion in 2018. ## Impact of Urbanisation Urbanisation has both positive and negative impacts on people who have migrated. ### Positive Impact Following are the positive impacts of urbanisation: * Urbanisation leads to development of **infrastructure** like hospitals, schools, colleges, factories, etc. * **Expansion of services** in urban areas such as potable water supply, electricity, transportation, etc. * **Better cultural and social services** are available in urban areas as compared to the rural areas. For example, shopping centres, restaurants, community and banquets, etc. * The **social and cultural barriers break down**, as it provides **opportunities to everyone** despite their caste, religion, etc. * **Scope for people to learn and become empowered** with modern technical equipments such as laptops, credit cards, etc. is more. ### Negative Impact High rate of urbanisation may have the following adverse effects: 1. **It may lead to creation of slum areas** due to lack of infrastructure in the cities and unaffordable rates of available housing. 2. **Scarcity of resources** such as water, electricity, transport etc. may occur. 3. **Urbanisation may lead to unemployment** when the number of people looking for jobs is more than the actual jobs available in that city. Issues related to unemployment, such as social unrest, criminal activities etc. are caused. 4. **Air and water pollution** is caused due to the development of industries, more vehicles on road, etc. 5. **There is destruction of the ecosystems** due to construction of new building in the city to accommodate the migrant population. Urbanisation on coastal areas also affects the ocean ecosystems, unless the cities are planned for judicious use of the existing resources. 6. **Change in climate** as deforestation raises the city temperature. ## Ways to Reduce the Impact of Urbanisation By building sustainable and environment friendly cities – rain water harvesting, use of solar energy to produce electricity, garbage clearance, solid waste management etc. ## Satellite Cities Due to the significant growth in population of urban areas in the last few decades, an alarming situation has been created. The towns and cities are saturated and are facing the shortage of available resources. In such a scenario, the concept of satellite towns or satellite cities emerged where smaller cities came up or developed close to a larger metropolitan cities. Satellite city is a smaller self-contained cities located near a metropolis (They are socially and economically independent of metropolis). They are planned to stop urban sprawl. Thus a satellite city can be defined as: _"A city designed to house the overspill population of any major city, but located well beyond the limits of that city, and operating as a discrete, self-contained entity."_ ### Objectives of Satellite Cities/ Towns * **Distribution of population** from the main city into adjoining areas. * **Provide affordable housing** to people with low income. * It **provides scope for investments**. Satellite cities act as a major economic sub-centre for main cities. * Satellite cities also **prevent over use of resources in the main city**. Thus it helps in removing the situation of scarcity in the city. ## Smart Cities The meaning of the phrase "smart city" may differ from region to region. For a common person, a smart city is an urban region that is highly advanced in terms of infrastructure, communication, transport and market viability. The basic elements of a smart city include the following as shown in the figure below: * Electricity supply * Affordable housing * Healthcare * Stores, parks, etc. * Water supply * City services * Airport * Proper sanitation * Better transport * Education * Railway station The main purpose of creating a smart city is to create a replicable model of a city that will act like a light house to other aspiring cities. Thus, smart cities provide well-developed infrastructure, better quality of life and a clean and healthy environment to its citizens. Toronto, Paris, New York, London, Tokyo, Berlin, Hong Kong, Barcelona, etc. are examples of few smart cities around the globe. In India, the plan of Smart Cities was proposed by our Prime Minister with a tagline of _"Smarter Solutions for a Better Tomorrow"_. ### Table 5.2 Smart Cities of World | Rank | Smart Cities of the World | |---|---| | 1 | London | | 2 | New York | | 3 | Amsterdam | | 4 | Paris | | 5 | Reykjavik | | 6 | Tokyo | | 7 | Singapore | | 8 | Copenhagen | | 9 | Berlin | | 10 | Vienna |