Contemporary Physical Geography

Rapid urbanization and industrialization accompanied by major changes in social, economic, environmental and technological arena are impacting adversely on traditional land-use, water resources, environmental quality and management practices in cities of developing countries in general and the Indian cities in particular. The emerging concept of sustainable urban development is closely connected with environment and economy to safeguard natural resources, which in turn lead to minimum acceptable quality of life. There is a constant struggle with issues of air pollution, congestion of human population and availability of green space. Sustainable city is a model for local governance. And this may be realised through effective partnership between public, private and civic sectors at all levels. The present compendium of 26 papers relates to conceptual and empirical case studies from India and other Asian countries. It also combines an academic understanding with an empirical approach to the sustainable urban development together with policy perspective. The book is useful for students, researchers and teachers coming from geography, urban studies, town planning, atmospheric sciences, environmental studies and policy science.