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BOOK REVIEW
Environment, Urbanisation and Development
- by A.K. Jain, 2021, Discovery Publishing House, New Delhi,
ISBN: 978- 93-88854-63-4, p.349, Rs 4000/-
and cultural resources, the Urbanisation and Development'
Government of India has provides a roadmap which is
launched the Historic City ecological and participatory. He
Development Augmentation emphasizes the need for local
Yojana (HRIDAY). Swachh Bharat planning which engages people
Mission (SBM) is another major and facilitates the creation of jobs,
initiative of the Government of public greens, services, mobility
India. The focus of these Missions and housing. This involves
is on core infrastructure services- integrated planning, which strikes
water supply, sanitation and a balance among environment,
solid waste management, public urbanization and development.
transportation, affordable The author underlines that the
housing, power supply, IT/digital key issues of new planning
connectivity, e-governance, citizen framework, that includes climate
The 7936 Indian cities having 377 participation, municipal reforms and disaster resilience, participa-
million people generate 60% of and financial support. These tory planning, land pooling,
GDP and 70% of jobs. However, Missions also align with the partnerships for infrastructure
many of them are threatened by Sustainable Development Goals development, transit-oriented
carbon emissions, increasing (SDGs) of the United Nations, development, and housing for all.
traffic, insanitation, poor which have been signed by 193 Sustainable approach focuses on
drainage and inadequate solid countries, including India in 2015. ecology, natural resources, water
and liquid waste disposal. According to the author A.K. Jain, and renewable energy. The
concepts of green building,
the SDGs and Missions visualise a
To make the cities sustainable and walkable city, green transport,
generate more opportunities for new urban vision, which is transit-oriented development,
jobs and economic growth, the inclusive and provides livelihood, and bringing together multiple
water, electricity, toilets, shelter
Government of India has agencies on a common, unified
embarked upon key Urban and security to all. The urban platform have been explained in a
Missions such as Smart Cities paradigm should protect the simple, flowing language.
rights of the poor, informal sector,
Mission and Atal Mission for Illustrated with about 200 graphics,
R e j u v e n a t i o n a n d U r b a n women and other vulnerable t h e b o o k ' E n v i r o n m e n t ,
Transformation (AMRUT). The communities. The cities and Urbanisa-tion and Development'
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana communities should be inclusive. deserves to be read by all those
(PMAY) aims to provide housing Innovative and smart planning concerned with sustainable
can help in making the city safer,
for all by 2022 by building 11.5 development.
million houses and make the more productive and enrich its
Indian cities slum free. For cultural and ecological space. Reviewed by Dr. Akshaya Kumar
Sen, Fellow, HUDCO's HSMI, New
conservation of urban heritage A.K. Jain in his book 'Environment,
Delhi
92 HUDCO-HSMI Publication
