Highlighting the prevailing poor infrastructure and haphazard environmental condition in urban areas across the country, a top government official said about 40 million people are estimated to be living in slums.
“Our cities are characterized by widespread poverty, poor urban infrastructure and environmental degradation with less than 60 per cent of the households having sanitation facilities,” Urban Development Secretary M Ramachandran said.
“There are about 40 million people estimated to live in slums,” he added.
India has the second largest urban system in the world with 310 million people and 5,161 cities and towns. Given the current trends, India’s urban population is estimated to reach 575 million by 2030.
Ramachandran was addressing a seminar on “Developing harmonious and sustainable cities in India for a better urban future”.
Advocating for the development of urban infrastructure, Ramachandran said lack of development in cities is affecting the economic growth.
“Poor urban development and weak infrastructure are constraining potential local and national economic growth,” he said and added, “We realise the need for strong focus and accelerated investment in infrastructure and improving the governance and management of our cities.”
