CHALLENGES OF IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIVING ENVIRONMENT IN A SMALL CITY

Back to Page Authors: Pushplata Garg

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Keywords: quality of living environment, piece meal development, traffic chaos, public open spaces

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Abstract: Quality of built environment plays a crucial role in urban areas acting as magnets, attracting economic activities, migrants and tourists. However, there is vast disparity in the quality of living environments between larger and smaller urban settlements, as well as, within settlements in developing countries like India. Also, there is an apparent difference in the problems faced by larger/metropolitan cities and small urban areas. Whereas, the problems of pollution, Urban Heat Island (UHI), availability and adequacy of public transportation, slums and squatter settlements, urban sprawl are causes of concern in larger cities; these are not of much concern in smaller urban areas. In smaller cities, it is the poor quality of living environment in general, be it residential or commercial areas; traffic chaos due to mixed mode of traffic and lack of control; and absence of public open spaces and recreational facilities that result in poor quality of living environment. The paper aims at identifying the challenges of improving quality of living environment in a small city. Problems and issues of poor quality of living environment in smaller cities are studied in context of Roorkee, a small city in North India based on field studies carried over a period of time. The challenges include finding pragmatic solutions in view of less financial resources of residents as well as the local authorities and absence of professional expertise.

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