Environmentally Sustainable Development of Urban Settlements In India: A Framework For Development of Indicators

Abstract

There have been numerous efforts worldwide at various scales (global/national/regional/local) in the field of development of sustainable development indicators, focusing on either one or all of its various dimensions, following the Rio Summit in 1992. However, India has fallen behind in the area of development of Sustainable Development Indicators and none of the Indian cities figure in the review of the IISD Compendium, the most comprehensive database to date to keep track of Indicators efforts. A review of the initiatives by several international agencies and countries in formulation of the sustainability indicators though provide necessary guidance, the final framework needs to address the urban sustainability issues in the Indian context. The objective of this paper is to develop a set of indicators at macro and micro level for environmentally sustainable development of the urban settlements in India. It involves recommending an approach, a methodology and a structural framework for deriving the indicators set at various levels focusing on resource dynamics of urban settlements. Domain based classification has been followed wherein domains have been identified based on essential natural and built in resources. Further, for each domain environmental sustainability determinants have been recognised and based on them multilevel indicators have been identified with a goal of greater livability and quality of life. A way forward has been given for the evaluation of indicators for formulation of policies at national level and action plan at local level with stakeholder’s participation.