Fri, Apr 23 01:15 PMNew Delhi, April 23 -- Dry taps, untreated sewage and piles
of solid waste strewn all around. This can become a stark reality of our urban
landscape by 2030, when India's urban population will grow from 340 million in
2008 to 590 million - 40 per cent of the total population - and twice the
present population of the United States, predicts a report by McKinsey &
Company.But this gloomy picture can be turned around if India invests $1.2
trillion (Rs 54 lakh crore) to keep pace with the growing urbanisation, says
the report, India's Urban Awakening: Building Cities, Sustaining Economic
Growth, which was released on Thursday.India's current per capita spending of
$17 (Rs 784) on urban infrastructure is just 14 per cent that of China's $116
(Rs 6,030). The report states that if existing services are not improved
drastically, the per capita water supply to a average citizen could drop from
an average of 105 litres to only 65 litre a day in the next 20 years.Also,
70-80 per cent of the sewage generated in the country would go untreated, while
of the 377 million tonne per annum solid waste that would be generated by 2030,
only about 295 million tonne will be collected because of inadequate
facilities.Thirteen cities will have a population of more than four million by
2030 with five states - Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Punjab
- likely to be more than 50% urbanised. Also, 70% of India's GDP will come from
cities - up from 58% - and drive a near fourfold increase in per capita
incomes."India's approach to urbanisation is likely to result in urban gridlock
and chaos, jeopardising the 7.4% growth rate. India needs to act with urgency
for the well being of its citizens and economy," says Ireena Vittal, partner,
McKinsey & Company.
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