The realities of urban life, high cost of living, and rising unemployment generate desolation. At political level, this desolation is reflected in ethnic, communal and sectarian tensions and violence, and at social level in anti-social attitude, rampant alcoholism, drug abuse and prostitution. The consequent threat of social disintegration in turn increases poverty. And the vicious cycle goes on. In today s globalized world, Development , in every sphere, is characterized by asymmetrical patterns.
Human settlements are no exception.
Cities and urban areas today occupy only 2 percent of the earth s land, but contain 50 percent of its population and consume 45 percent of its resources. The global urban population will double in next two decades from 2.5 billion to 5 billion. But the growth in resources to deal with the booming urban crises has failed to keep pace with the unbridled expansion of human settlements. The developing countries would be the hardest hit by this phenomenon of shrinking resources and exploding urban population. Logically, developing countries will require more resources to empower their cities to deal with the problems of civic life.