Terming growing urbanisation as an opportunity rather than a challenge, the government on Tuesday said India needed to succeed if the sustainable development goals (SDGs), set by the United Nations, were to succeed.

Speaking at the second annual meeting of the global platform for sustainable cities, Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs (Independent Charge), said: “If the SDGs have to succeed, then India will have to succeed equally, and if India succeeds, the SDGs will succeed.”

With the rising urban population, the demand for e-urban services – water, transportation, sewage treatment and affordable housing – has also been growing manifold.

“This can be seen as quite a challenge. However, we have chosen to embrace urbanisation as an opportunity,” Puri said.

On the occasion of ‘World Cities Day’, Puri said: “Rapid urbanisation in Indian cities has led to a dual challenge. Increasing densities have resulted in an overburdening of the existing infrastructure like water supply, infrastructure, sanitation, transportation, energy, hence raising serious questions about the quality of urban life. While, the main concern is the overall quality of life, the risks cities are facing due to natural disasters, abnormal weather conditions, increase in pollution level are also rising.”

Talking on the major challenges ahead, the Minister said: “For us, this is not about an either-or approach but embracing of a comprehensive and holistic development model.”

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