In this report, ESCAP explores the future of urbanization in Asia and the Pacific, focusing on the dynamic shifts in the region’s urban landscape. It highlights the region’s demographic transformations, including population ageing, and the persistent challenges of urban poverty and inequality. The analysis covers urban areas of all sizes, …
Leaders should recognise and act on dangers facing people living on the margins in urban centres, a report states. World Vision International’s report titled ‘Cities Prepare’, which was launched today, urges leaders to look at disaster preparedness levels across seven Asian cities, including Kathmandu, Kolkata, Chittagong, Bangkok, Jakarta, Davao, and …
Growing dust pollution has emerged as a serious health hazard in the city besides subjecting the citizens to a lot of inconvenience. A toxic haze formed by dust particles and vehicular emissions can be seen looming over the atmosphere over a long time across the city’s roads and streets, and …
Its earlier order not yet complied with, the Bombay High Court Monday asked the state's urban development department (UDD) to issue a circular within a week to all municipal corporations and zilla parishads instructing them to disallow construction on wetlands. The court had on October 14 this year directed the …
The government has so far released Rs. 141.228 billion under its Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for various projects against the total allocations of Rs. 540 billion for the fiscal year 2013-14. According to latest data of Ministry of Planning and Development, out of these allocations, Rs 25,862 million has …
The Sri Lankan government will build 60,000 houses to relocate the slum dwellers in the capital city of Colombo, a government minister said in parliament Wednesday. The Leader of the House, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva told parliament that the houses would be built as flats and the first phase …
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) general body meeting on Wednesday approved the draft development plan (DP) of Rs 88,000 crore for the city. The plan will be implemented over a span of 30 years to cater to the civic needs of population likely to touch 85 lakh by 2041. The …
All major real estate projects in the city and rest of the state have remained stalled since April because the state mechanism to clear them has been lying dormant for over six months. Both the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) and the State-level Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC), which clear …
According to the new report, Reducing Poverty by Closing South Asia's Infrastructure Gap, South Asian countries will have to invest as much as $2.5 trillion on transport, electricity, water supply and sanitation, solid waste management, telecommunications, and irrigation to bridge its infrastructure gap.
Cities across the world have started recognising the need to address urban climate vulnerabilities. In Asia, the role of the Asian Cities Climate Change Resilience Network (ACCCRN), a nine-year initiative (2008-2017) supported by the Rockefeller Foundation, has been significant. Over the years, ACCCRN has worked in ten cities in four …
The 2013 edition of the Statistical Yearbook presents concise analyses highlighting major achievements and challenges for the 58 regional ESCAP member States and the five subregions in promoting economic prosperity, social inclusion and environmental sustainability. These analyses are supported with the most up-to-date and comparable data for over 300 indicators …
This paper offers a comprehensive analysis of poverty in India. It shows that no matter which of the two official poverty lines is used, poverty has declined steadily in all states and for all social and religious groups. Accelerated growth between fiscal years 2004–2005 and 2009–2010 led to an accelerated …
Cities can use a range of principles and approaches to integrate the environment in urban planning and management. This report is intended to encourage and support urban decision-makers in this process. It starts with recognizing that action taken in towns and cities is essential for addressing global environmental problems. It …
The World Livestock 2013: Changing disease landscapes looks at the evidence of changing disease dynamics involving livestock and explores three key areas: the Pressure, including drivers and risk factors that contribute to disease emergence, spread and persistence; the State, describing the disease dynamics that result from the Pressure and their …
This publication considers disaster risk reduction from an urban perspective, with a focus on the cities of the Asia Pacific region. It focuses on the children of the Asia Pacific region who are living in or moving to large towns and cities, and asks the question: what more needs to …
The Defence and Forest and Environment ministries have given the go ahead to the proposed 150 km alternate highway to NH 31A, exclusively for defence purposes in Sikkim and West Bengal. The stretch from Damdim, Chalsa to Rhenock has been allotted to the National Highways Authority of India and the …
The European Union signed a development grant with Ethiopia on Monday worth 212.4 million euros ($287.26 million) to help finance road construction and projects targeting maternal health and drought resilience. Ethiopia, Africa's second most populous country after Nigeria, is midway through a five-year economic plan that foresees almost tripling the …
The state government has informed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that no road expansion work is being carried out on the stretch of National Highway-37 that passes along the southern boundaries of Kaziranga National Park. It said the present work is confined to strengthening the existing road to keep it …
Taking strong exception to non-compliance with the Environment Clearance (EC) conditions, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Government of Assam to recommend measures for protection of wildlife and human beings on National Highway (NH) 37 running through the Kaziranga National Park (KNP), by December 10. The increasing number …
The Punjab government Wednesday approved five development schemes of various sectors with an estimated cost of Rs 11,730.303 million including Widening/Improvement of Shahdara Maqboolpura Narang Road in District Shiekhupura at the cost of Rs 664.974 million. These schemes were approved in the 18th Party of current fiscal year 2013-14. Provincial …
The latest recommendations by a subcommittee of ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) on roads in protected areas (PAs) may spark more trouble for road widening by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) on NH-6 near Navegaon National Park and Mansinghdeo Wildlife Sanctuary on NH-7. A six-member subcommittee headed …
