'Our urban future stands revised' The implications of an India [Goa!?] urbanising faster than earlier thought YOGINDER K ALAGH http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=170206 <According to the Census of 2001, some Census towns are non-statutory towns and are actually rural areas, but have a minimum population of 5,000, a density of population of at least 400 persons per sq km, and at least three-quarters of the male workers are working outside agriculture... Applying the three criteria, the question arises that if "big villages", prima facie having the defined characteristics of urban or semi-urban areas, are in reality urban, the whole story changes. If this population is substantial, then our understanding of "urban" is incorrect, and we will end up making bad policies because the rate of urbanisation makes a big difference to the future...All in all, it is time to get real. If these estimates are anywhere near reality, the need for public-private partnerships for infrastructure is much greater, our water and energy forecasts are hopelessly low, the BOD disposal task is stiffer and the threat of slums much higher. On the other hand, faster urbanisation will trigger faster and more widespread economic growth. >
