SUSTAINABLE PLANNING OF A RURAL SETTLEMENT A Case of Village Pachgaon Gurgaon

Abstract

A common agenda of global concern is sustainable development. According to a report The World Conservation resources (IUCN) , sustainable development must take into account the social and economic factors along with ecological factor. India is emerging as an economic superpower. But in contrast, there is another profile as well. India constitutes about 17% of the world s population. We have 35% of poor and 40% illiterates in the world. Economic reforms indicates that there has been growth in economic, IT, export sectors. Inequality in income distribution has also grown simultaneously. Agriculture s share in GDP has been reduced to half. The sex ratio continues to remain favourable to men. Economic and social disparity is a threat to sustainable development. The present economic growth helps to create more opportunities for educated sector of upper and middle class people. Around 700 million people in rural India are directly dependent on climate-sensitive sectors like agriculture, forests and fisheries, etc., and natural resources like water, biodiversity, grasslands, etc., for their livelihoods. Climate changes and its effects have reduced the adaptive capacity of dry land farmers, forest dwellers, and nomadic shepherds. Environmental resources like water, soil and air have been shrinking. Availability of renewable fresh water has decreased from 5277 m3 in 1955 to 1720 m3 in 2011. The reason behind water crisis is its increased demand, zonal disparity in distribution, inadequate knowledge, change in land-use, water level decline and increase in salinity and pollution. Environmental sustainability considerations are integral part of India. The need for conservation of natural resources have been expressed in Indian scriptures more than three thousand years old and same have been reflected in our constitution and policy framework. Not only water and air pollution, degradation of land and forests are also Abstract newlinefocused. Measures were taken since 1972 after the Stockholm Declaration.