Figure of India‘s projected urban growth over the next thirty years are colossal. Our urban population is expected to reach at least 400 million. This is partly due to the growth of the urban sector caused by migration from areas and partly due to an absolute growth in the population itself. Although the rate of urban growth may seem impressive here, the lag between industrial development and urban growth is so great that urbanization becomes a negative phenomenon to development here. It is evident that with this kind of increase, the existing cities are going to be under enormous pressure. Political violence, antagonism student unrest, extreme housing shortage, breakdown of public transport, water supply and electricity environment dehydration, development of slums, etc. have become a routine feature of Indian urbanization. In view of this alarming situation, many sociologists have suggested some solution. They have not only demanded a more efficient government intervention into the problem but also have laid down certain points for dealing with this problem. It has been suggested that there should be a development of a new growth-centers of various size in order to cope with the urbanization explosion that India is facing today. How to develop the criteria necessary to rationally locate these new centers? It has been suggested that these urban centers should be placed across the nation in such a way that all the areas get an equal share of growth centers (example of American System). Further, ecological criteria have to be considered as these are crucial for rational organization of a pattern for India. Also, by studying the civil structure and the pattern of development of some classical cities, the techniques of development of these growth centres should be found. These growth centres should provide for all kinds of facilities including employment so that the rush towards metropolitan cities is curbed. It is obvious that these schemes will take long time, as we need lots of resources. However, there is no doubt that the development of growth centers will not only curb migration but will also lead to urban development. The most logical agency to take up this talk will be the National Planning Commission itself. In this way we may yet have real opportunity to use the colossal urban of the next 50 years to a permanent advantage and thus emerge from the tunnel….so to speak better off than what it was when we entered it.
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