Is planting saplings a solution to the felling of trees?

Is planting saplings a solution to the felling of trees?

Article:

1. R.K Misra, director, centre for smart cities emphasized that essential urban infrastructure will lead to a deteorating quality of life.

Important Analysis:

2. In India, the world’s fastest growing economy, the urban population (nearly 32%) contributes over 60% of the GDP  and is projected to 75% in next few years.

3. Globally, megacities have played a significant role in the economic growth of nations.

4. More than 12% of global city dwellers lived in the 28 megacities in 2014, of which Tokyo, Delhi and Shanghai were among the biggest.

5. Delhi is projected to become most populous city in the world by 2028, according to the United Nations.

6. The author highlighted the need to invest in urban infrastructure because :

• With the migration to urban areas, the share of agriculture and allied services in GDP has shrunk.
• This has lead to distress in rural India.
• On the contrary, the GDP contribution of megacities and metropolitan regions is disproportionately high.
• To make cities economically viable and environmentally sustainable, so that they remain economic growth engine.
• This will lead to more employment generation and improve quality of life.
• Investment in urban infrastructure is needed to support the burgeoning urban population.

7. The author highlighted the problems of Indian cities:

• There is lack of basic infrastructure
• Deteriorating quality of life
• 10 most polluted cities in the world are in India.
• Delhi is among them.

8. The author said that not creating essential  urban infrastructure will lead to deteriorating quality of life.

9. The author also provides some suggestions :

• Least harm to the environment
• Net environment impact assessment must be conducted to justify the felling of trees and harm to water bodies.
• Need to inform the stakeholders about the long-term possible impact of these urban infrastructure projects to justify their necessity.
• Environmental pollution caused by traffic jams will do more harm to the environment and to people’s health than felling 1,000 trees to build a metro line or an elevated corridor. This data needs to be compiled and shared on public forums to educate people.
• Care must be taken to avoid any harm to environment by creating underground and elevated.
• Large scale compensatory afforestation should be provided