Urban Development: Ever growing challenges

Urban Development: Ever growing challenges

By Dr B K Mukhopadhyay

A big challenge ahead! Urban populations are expected to increase by 1.5 billion over the next 20 years, while the number of megacities will double. 
In fact in many countries, urbanization is not considered a tiol development opportunity. In general the overall understanding of cities in tiol development is also very limited, and so is the appreciation of the structural transformations represented by the dymics of growth in urban centres. It is often forgotten that framing a tiol urban policy is the key step for reasserting urban space and territoriality and for providing the needed direction and course of action to support urban development. 
An appropriate regiol growth strategy sets a vision for how the region can mage growth sustaibly for the next decades, aiming at improving livability, protecting the environment and getting the right infrastructure in place. The requirement is to identify priority areas for implementation; refine the classification of centres, business areas and corridors; complete plan changes; develop and trial new approaches to encourage quality residential and business intensification and large-scale urban transformation; coordite infrastructure planning and investment; improve communication, monitoring and information sharing among others.  The aim is to help our region secure a better quality of life, and at the same time create a sustaible future socially, culturally, economically and environmentally. 
In order to be able to plan effectively the need is there to continuously monitor. For example, the growth rates of population and economic growth may change considerably from what is currently predicted which, in turn, could alter the ture and intensity of the region’s sustaibility challenges quite radically and would require current responses to be reviewed. Scerios planning thus come into play in order to identify the circumstances that may trigger a review. 
A lot thus depends on how infrastructure requirements are finced. The amount required on this score, needless to say, is a big one. How that is met is definitely a question, but where is the way out? Fund arrangement must be made so that the assets created become extremely useful in future. A number of instances may be shown where the fund invested virtually went a begging in as much as the investment made was on relatively less important are. Opportunity cost aspect was not adequately studied. 
Clearly, successful tiol urban policies has the ability to yield multiple results: the identification of urban development priorities towards socially and economically equitable and environmentally friendly urban and tiol development; future development of the tiol urban system and its spatial configuration concretized through tiol and spatial Plans for regiol development; coordition and guidance of actions by tiol  functiories vis-à-vis lower levels of government in all sectors; and, of course,  increased and well coordited private and public investments in urban development, which, in turn,  lead to consequent improvement of cities’ productivity, inclusiveness, environmental conditions and people’s participation in the development process . 
In South Africa, Brazil and Chi, a clear urban policy has reflected to be a key tool to orient action, address inequality and at the same time energize the development process itself. Mention may be made of UN-Habitat that has supported several urban policy development processes [even in Burundi, Malawi, Sri Lanka and Mongolia]. India, with its well-qualified techno-savvy trained planners [excepting the cultureless corrupt non-performer who misuses the power, misbehaves with the public and reluctant to sit on a discussion table to update the age-old knowledge level], can do the same thing in a better manner on this score.
Whatever is: let us have a look at Africa where overall infrastructure investment needs are estimated to be US$93 billion per year - largest infrastructure deficiency being in the energy sector, whether measured in terms of energy consumption, generation capacity or security of supply.  Most African countries face acute “energy poverty” with lack of access, especially in rural areas; low purchasing power; low energy efficiency and over-dependence on traditiol biomass for meeting basic energy needs. A recent report evaluates the role of infrastructure in promoting economic growth and poverty reduction in Africa. Rightly, it argues that strong urban economic development is essential for the provision of adequate housing, infrastructure, education, health, safety, and basic services. According to the report, Africa is the world’s largest consumer of biomass energy [biomass accounts for two-thirds of total African fil energy consumption, with 65 percent provided by firewood]. Interestingly, the report noted that the development of renewable energy options could be finced in part by more effective use of the “cap and trade” mechanisms under the Kyoto Protocol, such as the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). The report also notes that only South Africa, Mauritius and the five North African countries have taken advantage of the CDM-facilitated intertiol carbon trade opportunities, while most Sub-Saharan African countries lack the expertise to do so. The report indicates that capacity building is needed to eble these countries to prepare CDM-eligible projects and to negotiate carbon emissions credit.
Undoubtedly, housing has been the biggest problem and the way it is encountered in some cases goes beyond description. 
Globally, a number of different measures have been tried to elimite or improve areas of substandard housing. One of such result-oriented-methods is to clear out the entire run down section of a city, demolishing the existing housing and replacing it with government or privately funded modern housing. Though this has been done in many parts of the world, yet some countries have issues with “squatter rights,” [which means law enforcement cannot force inhabitants of the slums to move out so that they can clear the area]. In addition to this solution, urban planners are expected to work to locate schools, hospitals, and other socially beneficial and job-producing establishments near the slums in order to improve the economic climate of the area. Urban planners in coordition with other city officials have to work to elimite or improve existing slums and to ensure that new ones do not develop. This is a challenge, however, as many different social, political, and economic factors are involved not only in the development of such areas, but in their continued existence. Every wing has the responsibility to ensure livable environment and optimal use of funds.
The utmost need is there for integration of urban development in tiol sustaible development policies. Such policies serve as ebling frameworks for transport corridors, job creation and at the same time development of [within and between] cities. Plus, they can also empower local authorities to work more closely with tiol government. The importance of developing tiol urban policies as levers for sustaible development remains beyond any shade of doubt.
Dr Mukhopadhyay, a noted Magement Economist and an Intertiol Commentator on Business and Economic Affairs, can be located at m.bibhas@gmail.com

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