Environmental impact assessment : an Indo-Australian perspective
- New Delhi Bookwell 2007
- 293 p.
Cities today have become the nodes of human activities education, employment, industry, economic growth, mobilization and consumption. The sustainability of the cities is hampered by inequalities, shortages and inadequacy of capital stock such as land, power, water supply, mass transport and housing. Unprecedented urbanization is posing the problem of slums, shanty towns and squatters which are growing at twice the rate of planned housing. Per capita consumption of land and built space, including water, power and generation of wastes are increasing at an alarming rate as compared to population growth. As a result, unplanned development without proper housing, services, facilities, transport and greenery is leaving its footprints on the hinterland and is often overtaking the planned habitations. The increasing unemployment, poverty, health, water and sanitation facilities are leading to the degradation of the environment and resources. It is being increasingly realized that the issue of environmental degradation cannot be ignored any longer for the sake of economic development.
Environmental issues today are as diverse as they are serious. The daily life and economic base of developing regions largely depend upon natural resources, such as forests, soil and water. Strangely many of the efforts to combat poverty, hunger, disease and illiteracy inevitably result in the destruction of nature. Such depletion of natural resources cause deterioration of living conditions, which is aggravated by the effects of population growth and urbanization. In the midst of socio-economic globalization, all these problems are inter-connected and environmental damage is becoming even more complex and serious.