Problems of Unplanned Urbanization.

Problems of Unplanned Urbanization:

Urbanization is a process of increasing in the area of urban centers and proportion of people living in that area. In this modern age, the process of urbanization also grows along with the process of industrial development. The increase in population pressure causes the surrounding areas of town change in urban areas. Hence, urbanization includes the urban area and the growth of population living there. Therefore, urbanization not only denotes the growth of the area of towns but also the growth of population. In municipality and metropolitan city, there must be basic physical facilities like electricity, road, drinking water, communication, health and education.

The process of urbanization needs proper planning. About half of the world's population is in the urban area. Migration from the rural area to urban area is increasing day by day. If there are unplanned building construction and settlement extension, mismanagement of sewage and garbage, lack of drinking water and electricity, then the process of urbanization is unplanned. So, unplanned urbanization means to develop town or area without planning infrastructure which is unhygienic and unhealthy for the settlement.

Some of the alarming effects of unorganized urbanization on environment are as follows:

i. Lack of facility: In the planned urban area, facilities for drinking water, health service, transport, electricity, communication, employment are available. However, in the unplanned urban area, various essential facilities will be inadequate to healthy life.

ii. Unhealthy settlement: Healthy settlement is one which is neat and clean. Open space, greenery, proper drainage system, safe drinking water, etc. make the residence pleasant. The residence area becomes unhealthy if the urbanization is growing in an unplanned way and a lot of people migrate there for facilities. Unplanned urbanization results in an unhealthy residence area. 

iii. Unequal distribution of population: Facilities, means and resources are not adequate in unplanned urbanization. The population pressure is high there. The limited space is much crowded. Consequently, population pressure in some places in the world is very high while it is very low in some places. The unequal distribution of population disturbs the balance of the environment.

iv. Social disorder: High population pressure is found in unplanned urban areas. Employment, health facility, transport, communication, etc. cannot be provided. Consequently, the struggle of people for limited means and resources creates social disorder like dispute, theft, lack of discipline, etc. increases in the society.

v. Degradation in the environment: Resources like land, water, forest, etc. are excessively used while growing an unplanned city. People try to meet their requirements in whatever the way they can. Garbage increases due to dense and unplanned settlement. The environment is polluted. Due to air, land and water pollution, decline in the qualitative aspect of the environment can be seen.

vi. Adverse effect on health: Because of unplanned urbanization, random settlement increases. The drainage system, drinking water, road traffic, etc. are poorly managed. People are compelled to live on limited means of surviving. The health of the people can be impaired with suffered life.