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Is urban development in Gujarat unhealthy?

Conference Paper · June 2013

DOI: 10.13140/2.1.2613.6009

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Abhishek Nair Pramod K Singh

Wageningen University & Research Institute of Rural Management Anand
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Is urban development in Gujarat healthy?
Abhishek Nair1, Pramod K. Singh2 and Lakshmikant Tiwari3
Gujarat’s development pathway to
achieve high economic growth has
not planned for providing basic civic
amenities arising out of urbanization
and increasing urban population.
The Institute of Rural Management
Anand has commenced a study
to understand the sprawl of urban
Centers in Gujarat and its policy
implications under the IDRC-Think
Thank Initiative. In this study we
look at the urban sprawl in Gujarat’s
municipal corporations and class
‘A’ cities through spatio-temporal
data analysis and rise of urban
population. Spatial maps of physical
expansion of 25 major urban centers
will be generated for the years
1955, 1975, 1990, 2000, and 2012.
Satellite data will be used for the
last four years. Change detection
in terms of physical expansion of
these urban centers for the years
1955, 1975, 1990, 2000, and 2012
will be done using appropriate GIS
techniques. Data from the Gujarat
Urban Development Company and
other municipal bodies have been
assessed to understand the current
status of civic amenities in providing
a healthy environment to the urban
populace. Based on these findings
recommendations will be made
regarding development pathways
that provide a better standard of
living and a healthy environment.
Policies framed in Gujarat over
the past decades have been
aimed at attracting domestic and
foreign investors. Today, Gujarat
accounts for 7.2% of India’s GDP
due to its rapid industrialization
and tremendous growth rate in
the service sector. The state has
witnessed an annual average
growth rate of 9% in the last three
years and an average industrial Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, Junagadh,
growth rate of 15% for the same Rajkot, Surat, and Vadodara.
period. This high growth rate and
increased urbanization is due to fast Unplanned economic and industrial
industrial growth and growth of the liberalization pathways adopted by
tertiary sector. A double digit growth the state, such as the Vibrant Gujarat
rate, massive FDI inflows, a huge Summit has increased urbanization
SGDP increase, and a stupendous and urban sprawl without much
foreign exchange reserves have thought to providing basic civic
been cited as valid and justifiable amenities for the increasing
gains in the urban sprawl and in population. Population rise and
urbanization. Gujarat is the fourth urbanization drive the production of
most urbanized state in the country. waste. There is enough evidence
About 42.6% of Gujarat population of waste causing land and water
(25.71 million) lives in urban areas contamination through leaching and
as compared to India’s 31.16% air pollution owed to the release
(Census 2011). Urbanization refers of suspended particulate matter
to the process by which rural areas and methane emissions. Increase
become urbanized through economic in waste and lack of basic civic
development and industrialization. amenities for treating this waste in
Demographically, urbanization refers the largest urban centers of Gujarat
to the redistribution of population has contributed to the environmental
from rural to urban settlements. An degradation and pollution. Untreated
increase in the urban population waste in major urban
causes urban sprawl that centers
pressurizes natural resources. i s
Gujarat’s urban cities are
based on population;
this is divided into
five classes of
which there are
seven municipal
corporations,
18 A class
(> 100,000),
33 B class
(50,000-
1000,000),
44 C class
(25,000-50,000)
and 64 D class
(15,000-25,000)
urban centres.
Of the total urban
population 56% live in
Gujarat’s seven municipal
corporations namely Ahmedabad,
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being discharged on land and water resources, degrading them and reducing air quality creating thereby an unhealthy
environment impacting humans and ecosystems. In this study, we look at the urban sprawl of municipal corporations
and type A cities and their civic amenities for the treatment of wastes. To give readers a glimpse of the study being
conducted, this note mentions urban sprawl and the basic amenities available in seven municipal corporations.
Table 1 depicts the sprawl in various classes of urban centers in Gujarat in the past decade.
Table 1: Urban sprawl in Gujarat’s urban centers in the last decade
Class Area 2001 (Sq. km) Area 2009 (Sq. km) % Increase of Area 2001-09
MC 650.4 1201.34 85%
A 359.18 442.90 23%
B 596.14 721.60 21%
C 802.42 837.59 4%
D 1003 1010.43 1%
Total 3411.14 4213.86 24%

Table 2 and the figure in the appendix show the urban sprawl in the last five decades of the seven municipal
corporations. Thanks to unmanaged urban development an increase in slums is observed with about 59% of the
state’s urban slum population (2.21 million) dwelling in these cities. The remaining 1.56 million live in A, B, C and D
classes cities.
Table 2: Urban sprawl of Gujarat’s Municipal Corporation in the last five decades
(Figures in percent)

Cities 1955–2000 2000–2012 1955–2012

Ahmadabad 3705 26.3 4704
Bhavnagar 1813 39.2 2563
Jamnagar 1141 45.3 1703
Junagadh 901 307 2763
Rajkot 1407 90.4 2769
Surat 2039 74.1 3624
Vadodara 2128 32.8 2859

Unmanaged urban sprawl and development Gujarat have taken a toll of basic amenities including clean water and
healthy air. The seven municipal corporations contribute about 72% of the total solid waste from urban areas. The total
solid waste generated from all the urban areas in Gujarat amounts to 8566.54 tons per day. Out of this about 18%
is put through treatment of which only 1.6% is treated through scientific measures. About 63% of wastes are dumped
into landfills and 17.6% is left untreated. Only four municipal corporations own compliant scientific landfill sites; two in
Surat, one in Rajkot and one in Vadodara and one in Ahmedabad.

The total urban domestic sewage generated in the state amounts to 2288 MLD while the seven municipal corporations
contribute 73% of the urban domestic sewage that is generated. The C & D class towns do not have established
sewage networks in place. Class B towns have the treatment capacity of only four percent of the total waste water
generation while class D towns do not own any kind of treatment facility. Classes B, C and D towns are in a deplorable
state with insignificant treatment facilities. The rate of urbanization continues to add pressure on waste management
options. There is a need to ensure that waste disposal and treatment are given importance for reducing health and
environmental problems in urban centres.
The current status of solid and liquid waste treatment depicts the dire state of basic civic amenities required for a
healthy environment needed for a good quality of life. This throws light on the unplanned development pathways opted
for by the state. There is an urgent need for basic civic amenities such as waste disposal and treatment facilities,
water supply, and air pollution regulations to ensure a sustainable environment for future generations.
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Figure 1: Urban expansion of Ahmedabad City

Figure 2: Urban expansion of Bhavnagar City

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Figure 3: Urban expansion of Jamnagar City

Figure 4: Urban expansion of Rajkot City

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Figure 5: Urban expansion of Surat City

Figure 6: Urban expansion of Vadodara City

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Figure 7: Urban expansion of Junagadh City

1 Research Associate, Institute of Rural Management, Anand-388001, Gujarat, India

E-mail: abhishek@irma.ac.in

2 Associate Professor, Institute of Rural Management, Anand-388001, Gujarat, India

E-mail : pramod@irma.ac.in

3 Research Associate, Institute of Rural Management, Anand-388001, Gujarat, India

E-mail: lakshmikant@irma.ac.in

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