The United Nations’ State of the World Population Report, 2007 reveals that less than 30 per cent of India’s population today is urban. This proportion is likely to increase to 40.7 per cent by 2030, the report predicts. Within India, Karnataka lags behind several other states with regard to urbanisation. Only 34 per cent of the state’s population is urban, compared with 43.9 per cent in Tamil Nadu, 42.4 in Maharashtra and 37.4 per cent in Gujarat. The report predicts that by 2008, for the first time in the history of mankind half of the world’s population will be in urban areas. By 2030, 60 per cent of the world’s population will be urban. The report provides interesting pointers to city planners and economic policy makers. It is clear that the world is becoming increasingly urbanised, although for several years now governments have been discouraging people from migrating to cities. Efforts have been made to make rural areas the hub of economic development so that the rural population would not feel the urge to move to cities in search of jobs and opportunities. But such efforts have clearly failed. People are being drawn to cities increasingly.

Urbanisation is positive if it means better living conditions for people. History shows us that no country has been able to achieve economic growth without urbanisation. But if the problems stemming from unplanned urbanisation are not managed effectively, it could lead to catastrophe. Therefore the world needs to guard against this possibility  and act to prevent it in time.

Population experts are suggesting that instead of resisting urbanisation, we must accept this as an inevitable reality and plan accordingly. Civic authorities need to plan ahead and improve civic infrastructure. Already most cities across the world and especially in the developing countries are unable to cope with the existing populations. Around a billion people live in slums. Urban infrastructure in these cities, which is already under severe strain, will collapse in the coming years as pressure of population mounts. If jobs, water, housing, health facilities and other forms of infrastructure are not built up now, crime and violent strife in cities will touch unmanageable levels. The report is a wake-up call we cannot afford to ignore. If governments wait to act, it will be too late.