Emerging cities in India and China: Enormity of challenges posed by rapid urbanism Dilip Sankarreddy Save Bombay Committee, NGO, India

Agenda Discuss the phenomenon of rapid urbanization in developing and transitional economies Highlight the emergence of huge number of cities in India and China Discuss the problems and challenges Seek formulation of a generalized solution

Viewing world through population density Source: CIESIN

Dangerous combination Rapid economic growth due to globalization Vast areas High-density population Host of peculiar local constraints Ineffective local administrative bodies

Banding the cities based on population Population in millions 1st bandGreater than 3 2nd bandBetween 2 and 3 3rd bandBetween 1 and 2 4th bandBetween 0.5 and 1 5th bandBetween 0.25 and 0.5

Indian cities in band 1 Population in millionsLegend 1st bandGreater than 3

Chinese cities in band 1 Population in millionsLegend 1st bandGreater than 3

Indian cities in bands 1 and 2 Population in millionsLegend 1st bandGreater than 3 2nd bandBetween 2 and 3

Chinese cities in bands 1 and 2 Population in millionsLegend 1st bandGreater than 3 2nd bandBetween 2 and 3

Indian cities in bands 1, 2 and 3 Population in millionsLegend 1st bandGreater than 3 2nd bandBetween 2 and 3 3rd bandBetween 1 and 2

Chinese cities in bands 1, 2 and 3 Population in millionsLegend 1st bandGreater than 3 2nd bandBetween 2 and 3 3rd bandBetween 1 and 2

Indian cities in bands 1, 2, 3 and 4 Population in millionsLegend 1st bandGreater than 3 2nd bandBetween 2 and 3 3rd bandBetween 1 and 2 4th bandBetween 0.5 and 1

Chinese cities in bands 1, 2, 3 and 4 Population in millionsLegend 1st bandGreater than 3 2nd bandBetween 2 and 3 3rd bandBetween 1 and 2 4th bandBetween 0.5 and 1

Comparison of cities across bands Population in millions IndiaChinaBrazilUS 1 st bandGreater than nd bandBetween 2 and rd bandBetween 1 and th bandBetween 0.5 and th bandBetween 0.25 and Not available 5738

Few constraints Creation of electoral constituencies such as to diminish the territorial significance of urban areas Lack of mature and professional city-governing bodies Lack of adequate information in public domain

Towards formulation of a generalized solution Devolution of more powers to city-governing bodies Building city-wise institutions for urban planning that help create effective territorial entities Framing of rules to ensure better administrative accountability Creating means for lasting coordination between all administrative establishments across all cities Exploring the possibility of arriving at territorial suggestive upper limits of output

Towards formulation of a generalized solution (Contd.) Marginal de-politicizing of urban administration by giving administrative role to urban experts Creating professional regulation bodies and watchdog agencies City administration should be made accountable not only for the administration of the city, but also for the environmental well- being of the suburbs Open all practices of administration to public scrutiny and debate

Thank you!