DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL

BIRATNAGAR

PROJECT WORK
OF
EPH

Classification of Urban Centers in

Nepal and Effects of Urbanization on
Population and Environment

GROUP- C
Submitted by: Date:
Sudan Shrestha 2021-2-26

1
 Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Classification of Urban Centers in Nepal........................................................................................4
Population Distribution and Growth by the Development Region, Nepal (1960-2017).................6
Effects of Urbanization on Population and Environment................................................................7
1)Effects of Urbanization on Population:....................................................................................7
i. The positive effects of urbanization are:...........................................................................7
ii. The negative effects of urbanization are:......................................................................8
2) Effects of Urbanization on Environment:...............................................................................9
i. Impact on atmosphere and climate:..................................................................................9
ii. Impact on lithosphere and land resources:....................................................................9
iii. Impact on hydrosphere and water resources:................................................................9
iv. Impact on biosphere:.....................................................................................................9
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................10
Bibliography..................................................................................................................................11

2
 Introduction

Urbanization refers to the population shift from rural to urban areas, the decrease in the
proportion of people living in rural areas, and the ways in which societies adapt to this change.
The term ‘Urban’ which was derived from Latin word ‘Urbanus’ that denotes towns and cities.
Urbanization refers to the proportion of the total national population living in areas classified as
urban, urban growth strictly refers to the absolute number of people living in those areas. It is
predicted that by 2050 about 64% of the developing world and 86% of the developed world will
be urbanized. More than one half of the world population lives now in urban areas, and virtually
all countries of the world are becoming increasingly urbanized. Urbanization also alters the
demographic and social structure of both urban and rural areas. Historically, the urban transition
has been linked closely to economic development. The urban transition and economic growth
have been linked in part because economic development fuels urbanization. People are drawn to
cities that offer varied opportunities for education and employment, particularly in the industry
and services sectors. Urbanization, in turn, has generally been a positive force for economic
growth, poverty reduction and human development. Approximately 80 per cent of global gross
domestic product (GDP) is generated in cities. Urbanization has generally been a positive force
for economic growth, poverty reduction and human development. Urban areas also serve as hubs
for development, where the proximity of commerce, government and transportation provide the
infrastructure necessary for sharing knowledge and information. Economies of scale in urban
areas and technological innovation can facilitate the sustainable provision of infrastructure such
as roads, piped water and electricity, as well as basic services such as education and health care,
all of which are essential to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. An increasing share of
economic activity and innovation becomes concentrated in cities, and cities develop as hubs for
the flow of transport, trade and information. Cities also become places where public and private
services of the highest quality are available and where basic services are often more accessible
than in rural areas. The world is becoming increasingly urbanized. Today, more than half of the
global population lives in urban areas, while the urban share worldwide is rising from around one
third in 1950 to around two thirds in 2050. Sustainable development depends critically on the
successful management of urban growth to create sustainable cities in both developed and
developing countries. The Population Division prepares estimates and projections of the size of

3
the urban population at the global, regional and national levels. It also tracks the current and
future size of the world’s largest cities. Urbanization creates enormous social, economic and
environmental changes, which provide an opportunity for sustainability with the "potential to use
resources more efficiently, to create more sustainable land use and to protect the biodiversity of
natural ecosystems." Urbanization increases the number of urban centers and contributes to rapid
population growth and pressure in urban areas/settlements.

Classification of Urban Centers in Nepal

Due to changing definitions of urban centers, the study of Nepal’s urbanization can be
influenced. Following can be some efforts of classifying the urban areas in the different census
and legal documents.
 The 1952/54 census provided data on 10 “prominent” settlements with a population of
over 5,000. Those prominent settlements can be taken as urban areas.
 The 1961 census for the first time defined an urban area as “an area with a population
cluster of 5,000 and over and having an urban environment such as high school, college,
judicial and administrative office, bazaar, communication facilities, mills, factories, etc.”.
 The Nagar Panchayat Act of 1962 mentioned Nagar as the local level urban
administrative unit. It specified the population size criteria of “not less than 10,000” for a
Nagar.
According to the Local Self-Government Act 1999, urban centers are classified into three
categories: i)Nagarpalika (Municipality), ii)Upamahanagarpalika (Sub-Mertopolitancity), and
iii)Mahanagarpalika (Metropolitan city) with following criteria:

4
 (i) Nagarpalika (Municipality): Municipality is an area with
 A minimum population size of 20,000 in Terai and 10,000 in Hill/Mountain
region.
 An annual revenue of 5 million in the Terai and 500,000 in the Hill/Mountain
region.
 Minimum urban facilities such as electricity, road, drinking water, communication
and other similar urban facilities.
(ii) Upamahanagarpalika (Sub-metropolitan city): Sub-metropolitan city is an area with
 A minimum population size of 100,000.
 An annual revenue of at least Rs.100 million.
 Facilities of electricity, drinking water, communications, paved main roads,
education and health services of high standard, general infrastructure for national
and international sports events, provision of public parks and a city hall and
similar urban facilities.
 An area that has already received the status of Nagarpalika.
(iii) Mahanagarpalika (Metropolitan city): Metropolitan city is an area with
 A minimum population size of 300,000.
 An annual revenue of at least Rs.400 million.
 Facilities of electricity, drinking water, communications, paved main and
subsidiary roads, provision of specialized health services, essential infrastructure
for international sports events, adequate opportunities for higher education in
different fields, at least one established university, adequate urban facilities.
 An area that has already received the status of Upamahanagarpalika.
There are total 100,000+ urban centers: 6 Metropolitan cities (Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur,
Pokhara, Biratnagarand Birjung), 11 Sub-Metropolitan cities (Itahari, Dharan, Janakpur,
Ghorahi, Hetauda, Dhangadhi, Tulsipur, Nepaljung, Butwal, Kalaiya and Jitpur Simara) and
100,000+ Municipality.

5
 Population Distribution and Growth by the
Development Region, Nepal (1960-2017)

Nature of Nepalese society was rural in the past. After restoration of democracy in 2007BS, the
momentum of development had taken place. Fifth census 1952/54, for the first time collected the
information of urban population of 10 centers in the name of ‘prominent settlement’ with
populations of more than 5,000. At that time, 3 percent (238275) of national population was
urban population. It crossed 1 million with the share of about 9 percent of national population in
1991 in 33 urban areas. It further increased to nearly 14 percent (3.2 million) of national
population in 2001 in 58 urban areas. According to the latest 11 th census 2011, the share of urban
population crossed 17 percent (4.5 million) of national population in 58 urban areas. Following
table shows the number of urban centers, urban population, urban growth rate and intercensal
according to various censuses.
Number of Percent of
Urban Urban
Census year urban urban
population growth rate
centres population
1952/54 10 238,275 2.9 -
1961 16 336,222 3.6 4.40
1971 16 461,938 4.0 3.23
1981 23 956,721 6.4 7.55
1991 33 1,695,719 9.2 5.89
2001 58 3,227,879 13.9 6.65

6
 2011 58 4,523,820 17.1 3.38

Effects of Urbanization on Population and

Environment
The shift of economic status of people and their involvement in non-agricultural sector is related
to urbanization. Due to the insurgency that started in 2052 BS the people in Hill and remote
villagers migrated to urban areas for security and prosperity. It caused the rapid increase of
people in urban areas, creating heavy pressure in various means and resources of the areas. It
also degraded the environmental status there. Urbanization has also been increased with the
reclassification of urban areas through political decisions. This haphazard reclassification of
urban centers has created the lack of adequate services and facilities. It has adverse effects on
population and environment.

1)Effects of Urbanization on Population:

Urbanization brings both positive and negative effects on population. It brings awareness on
quality of life and the importance of small family. It also provides the opportunity to develop
one’s own potentials. There can be many opportunities for employment and easy access to
quality health and education. Besides, many alternatives of entertainment are found in urban
areas. However, there will be lack of goods and services. Cut throat competition can be observed
in every sector. Unemployment problem, security threat and other forms of social deformities
also increase with rapid urbanization.

i. The positive effects of urbanization are:

 It increases level of public awareness.
 It provides access to health and education.
 It provides opportunities of employment.
 The quality of life will be increased.
 It empowers women.

7
  It provides access to information and communication services.
 It provides alternatives of recreational activities.
 It changes traditional value systems.
 People get chance to explore one’s own potentials.
 It develops norms of small family.
 It provides business opportunities of alternatives.

ii. The negative effects of urbanization are:

 There will be pressure of population and lack of services.
 Pollution effects the public health.
 There will be lack of quality of health and education.
 Unemployment problem will increase and crimes will also rise.
 It makes difficulty in fulfillment of basic needs due to price hike.
 People will lack their facilities.
 The settlements will be unhealthy.
 There will be social disorder.
 Population will get distributed unequally.
 There will be social threat due to increase in crimes.
 People will lose their morality and discipline.
 People will also lose their traditional values and norms.
 It creates violence of nature.
 People will have high competition in job.
 Life will be tiring and stressful.

8
2) Effects of Urbanization on Environment:

Urbanization is not planned in our context. Unplanned urbanization has many effects on
environment, despite the level of awareness on environmental protection can be high. Because of
urbanization, problems of water supply can emerge. Besides, unplanned settlements can increase
the waste disposal, pollution and environment degradation. The problems are not necessarily
noticed in many countries or then nothing is done even the situation has been detected. Most
emerging issues are climate change, fresh water scarcity, deforestation, fresh water pollution and
population growth. These problems are very complex and their interactions are also hard to
define.

i. Impact on atmosphere and climate:

 Creation of hot islands.
 Change in air quality.
 Change in patterns and precipitation.

ii. Impact on lithosphere and land resources:

 Erosion and other changes in land quality.
 Pollution.

iii. Impact on hydrosphere and water resources:

 Flow of water into streams.
 Flow of water through streams.
 Degrade water quality.

iv. Impact on biosphere:

 Modification of habitants.
 Destruction of habitants.

9
 Creation of new habitants.

10
 Conclusion
Urbanization refers to the population shift from rural to urban areas, the decrease in the
proportion of people living in rural areas, and the ways in which societies adapt to this change.
The term ‘Urban’ which was derived from Latin word ‘Urbanus’ that denotes towns and cities.
Urbanization refers to the proportion of the total national population living in areas classified as
urban, urban growth strictly refers to the absolute number of people living in those areas.
Urbanization, in turn, has generally been a positive force for economic growth, poverty reduction
and human development.
Urbanization has generally been a positive force for economic growth, poverty reduction and
human development. Urban areas also serve as hubs for development, where the proximity of
commerce, government and transportation provide the infrastructure necessary for sharing
knowledge and information. Economies of scale in urban areas and technological innovation can
facilitate the sustainable provision of infrastructure such as roads, piped water and electricity, as
well as basic services such as education and health care, all of which are essential to achieve the
Sustainable Development Goals. Sustainable development depends critically on the successful
management of urban growth to create sustainable cities in both developed and developing
countries. The Population Division prepares estimates and projections of the size of the urban
population at the global, regional and national levels.
Urbanization brings both positive and negative effects on population. It brings awareness on
quality of life and the importance of small family. There can be many opportunities for
employment and easy access to quality health and education. Cut throat competition can be
observed in every sector. Urbanization is not planned in our context. Unplanned urbanization has
many effects on environment, despite the level of awareness on environmental protection can be
high. Because of urbanization, problems of water supply can emerge.

11
 Bibliography
 Koselee Prakashan: EPH (Basic Health, Population and Environment)
 Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urbanization
 United Nations:
https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/theme/urbanization/index.asp
 World Urbanization Prospects: https://population.un.org/wup/Publications/Files/WUP2018-
Report.pdf
 Our world in data: https://ourworldindata.org/urbanization
 Slideshare: https://www.slideshare.net/hrishiraj86/urbanization-and-its-effect-on-environment

12