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, …
The highways ministry is planning to set up a corporation for building Greenfield expressways across the country. The move comes after the ministry shelved its earlier plan of floating an autonomous authority on the lines of NHAI. Government sources said that the idea of corporation has found the favour since …
UP government on Monday gave in principle approval to construction of an expressway between Lucknow and Agra. The six-lane expressway that seeks to reduce the distance between the two cities from the existing 350 km to 274 km, will pass through Yadav-dominated belt comprising districts like Etawah, Mainpuri and Kannauj. …
A 3,200-km trilateral highway linking India, Myanmar and Thailand will become a reality by 2016. India has given a $500 million loan to Myanmar, some of which will be used to fund the highway, said Anil Wadhwa, India’s ambassador to Thailand. In an interview to Thai newspaper The Nation, Wadhwa …
The second phase of the project to assess the impact of climate changes in target cities in India, including Kochi will be launched soon. A stakeholder meeting will be convened in Kochi on Tuesday to discuss the timelines, status and next steps for the project. The major objectives of the …
The Indian Government is planning to launch a new urban health-care programme in its latest step towards universal health-care coverage in the country. Soumyadeep Bhaumik reports.
Learn from Delhi’s experience, says Montek to other States The Annual Plan for Delhi for 2012-13 was on Thursday finalised at Rs. 15,862 crore at a meeting between Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and State Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. In his initial remarks, Mr Ahluwalia lauded Delhi’s performance …
Kerala is heading for a significant phase in its demographic transition with the state moving towards achieving zero population growth rate, which will result in an increase in scarcity of labour. With a very low fertility rate and stabilising death rate, Kerala is expected to achieve zero population growth rate …
Ludhiana continues to be the city with highest urban population, Mohali at second spot Chandigarh: Dubbed as the most backward area in the state at one point of time, Malwa has emerged at the most urbanised belt in Punjab, as shown in the updated figures of the Census 2011 that …
The Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB) is taking up a programme to conserve ponds and other waterbodies in urban areas across the State. Primarily aimed at conserving urban biodiversity, the participatory programme will be carried out with the help of residents’ associations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). It involves protecting waterbodies, …
The fundamental challenge facing Karachi is a disorganised, ill-coordinated institutional and governance framework with substantial capacity deficits, according to a recent study assessing the city’s vulnerability to possible climate change impacts. The 65-page study, Karachi city climate change adaptation strategy a road map, is conducted by Shehri-Citizens for a Better …
Many species in some of the most remote vestiges of Britain's overseas territories face extinction unless a government plan to protect them sets out clearly defined preservation targets, according to wildlife experts. A newly unveiled government white paper pledges to "cherish the environment" in its 14 overseas territories, which include …
Carbon emissions from cities represent the single largest human contribution to climate change. Here we present a vision, strategy and roadmap for an international framework to assess directly the carbon emission trends of the world's megacities.
Human stress on the environment has long been debated and different views about the human drivers of greenhouse-gas emissions have emerged. Now research synthesizes the debate by looking at empirical evidence and offers new insights on the role of human population, affluence, urbanization, trade, culture and institutions on greenhouse-gas emissions …
The unexpected increase in the number of census towns (CTs) in the last census has thrust them into the spotlight. Using a hitherto unexploited dataset, it is found that many of the new CTs satisfied the requisite criteria in 2001 itself; mitigating concerns of inflated urbanisation. The new CTs account …
This study, which uses a resilience strategy document developed for Gorakhpur as a baseline, suggests potential entry points for climate adaptation in the existing policy and regulatory framework. It also identifies specific action points that may be taken up at the city and state level to mainstream climate resilience.
The Key Indicators for Asia and the Pacific 2012, the 43rd edition of this series, includes the latest available economic, financial, social, and environmental indicators for the 48 regional members of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). This publication aims to present the latest key statistics on development issues concerning the …
For cities to confront the challenges of fossil fuel depletion, increasing energy costs and rapid climate change, it is inevitable to develop and implement urban energy management solutions for their sustainable future. This publication is a training companion developed originally for training courses at the International Urban Training Centre in …
This article discusses the methodology adapted in designing city resilience concepts under changing climate scenarios for two cities in India, namely, Indore and Surat. This initiative was undertaken in the second phase (2009-2010) of Asian Cities Climate Change Resilience Network (ACCCRN) programme. The process of resilience planning has demonstrated how …
India is now among the top 10 countries generating the highest amount of municipal solid waste due to growing urbanisation and high consumption, says a new report by Worldwatch Institute. The US leads in generating such waste at 621,000 tonnes a day (approximately). Globally, municipal solid waste is projected to …
The concern of Hegde and Subhash Chandra about the environment and cost economics of river diversion schemes is commendable; however, given the limitations of the proposals recommended by the authors, the river diversion schemes could be inevitable for the reasons mentioned in this note. In addition, it is pertinent to …
