Urbanisation and Climate Challenges
Indian cities are facing water shortages, power cuts, and rising temperatures due to the heat.
Rapid urbanisation leads to more pollution, congestion, and environmental impacts.
The underprivileged are most affected by these urban issues.
Cities are not fully prepared for climate extremes.
SDG-11 and Its Limitations
SDG-11 aims for safe, inclusive, and sustainable cities, but India lacks proper tools to track progress.
Current indices like the SDG Urban Index and Ease of Living Index only cover a few aspects of SDG-11.
SDG Urban Index covers only four indicators for SDG-11:
Swachh Survekshan (cleanliness ranking),
Road deaths (safety indicator),
PMAY-U housing (urban housing progress),
Waste treatment (environmental management).
Key areas like resilience, inclusivity, and safety are often not fully measured.
A more comprehensive index is needed to assess SDG-11 properly.
Research Insights on City Performance
Research created four indices to assess safety, inclusivity, sustainability, and resilience in 10 cities.
Ahmedabad ranked high for inclusivity, Bengaluru for safety, Surat for sustainability, and Chennai for resilience.
Cities like Jaipur and Kolkata lagged behind in several areas.
The findings show gaps in urban planning and the need for better policies.
Road Ahead for Urban Development
Urban local bodies should track SDG-11 with real-time data and better planning.
Addressing urban poverty is crucial, as almost one-third of urban residents are poor.
City-specific strategies must be developed for more effective governance.
Localised, data-driven approaches are essential for improving cities.
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