1
ENVIRONMENTAL STATISTICS
ON HUMAN SETTLEMENTS
THROUGH LARGE SCALE SOCIO-
ECONOMIC SAMPLE SURVEYS IN INDIA
PRESENTED BY
T. KOTESWARA RAO
DIRECTOR, SPECIAL MONITORING CELL
PLANNING DEPT., SECRETARIAT
• A
MAJOR
THRUST
AREA
RELEVANT
TO
ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND PROTECTION IS
ENVIRONMENTAL
STATISTICS
ON
HUMAN
SETTLEMENTS
• THE MAJOR PROBLEMS OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS IN
ASIAN COUNTRIES IN GENERAL AND IN INDIA IN
PARTICULAR ARE WELL KNOWN -RAPID POPULATION
GROWTH, POVERTY, POOR HOUSING CONDITIONS,
POOR SANITARY CONDITIONS, UNCLEAN DRINKING
WATER, FILTH AND DIRT, OPEN DRAINS, STINKING
SEWAGE, UNHYGIENIC COOKING PRACTICES.
2
• RAPID POPULATION GROWTH CAN EXACERBATE THE
MUTUALLY RE-INFORCING EFFECTS OF POVERTY
AND ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE. THE POOR ARE
BOTH VICTIMS AND AGENTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL
DAMAGE.
THE
POPULATION OF DEVELOPING
COUNTRIES GREW BETWEEN 1950 - 1999 FROM 1.71
BILLION TO 4.80 BILLION PEOPLE AN INCREASE OF 168
PER CENT.
• INADEQUATE HOUSING STOCK AND POOR HOUSING
CONDITIONS CREATE LOT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
HAZARDS.
• POOR FAMILIES OFTEN LACK THE RESOURCES
TO AVOID DEGRADING THEIR ENVIRONMENT.
POOR
PEOPLE
IN
CROWDED
SQUATTER
SETTLEMENTS
FREQUENTLY
ENDURE
INADEQUATE ACCESS TO SAFE DRINKING
WATER. LACK OF SAFE DRINKING WATER
CAUSES SINKING WELLS LEADING TO OVER
PUMPING AND DEPLETION. IN COASTAL AREAS
THIS CAN CAUSE SALINE INTRUSION.
3
•
INADEQUATE SANITATION IS A MAJOR CAUSE OF THE
DEGRADATION OF THE QUALITY OF THE GROUND WATER AND
SURFACE WATER. SANITATION IS CLOSELY LINKED WITH INFANT
MORTALITY RATE AND LIFE EXPECTANCY. THE INFANT
MORTALITY RATE IN DEVELOPED COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD IS 8
PER 1000 LIVE BIRTHS AS AGAINST 62 IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
OF THE WORLD.
•
INADEQUATE FACILITIES FOR DISPOSAL OF GARBAGE LEAD TO
LARGE QUANTITY OF WASTE BOTH GROUND WATER AND
SURFACE WATER. GROUND WATER CONTAMINATION IS LESS
VISIBLE BUT OFTEN MORE SERIOUS.
• SMOKE AND FUMES FROM INDOOR USE OF BIOMAS FUEL
(SUCH AS WOOD, STRAW, AND DUNG) POSE MUCH
GREATER HEALTH RISKS THAN OUTDOOR P