ASSIGNMENT 1 POST-GRADUATE DIPLOMA IN URBAN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND LAW

(PGDUEML) September 2014-15

Dear Participant, Assignments are a part of your continuous evaluation process. The main purpose of assignment is

to test your comprehension of the learning material you receive from us and also to help you

understand the course aspects. A participant must submit a total of five assignments, one for each

theory Course.

The submission of assignments is compulsory. Assignment marks will contribute to your grades.

Participants will be allowed to appear in term end exams only if they submit all the five

assignments.

Each course shall have one assignment and will carry 40% weightage while 60% weightage is given

to the term-end examinations. The assignment has to be submitted within a certain time span (see

time-line provided in programme guide for details of submission dates). Assignments must be

submitted only in soft copy and emailed to Richa Tyagi at submissionscel@wwfindia.net. It is

very important to submit the assignments as per indicated dates, as late submission would lead to

negative marking.

Your answers should be within the approximate range of the word-limit set for each question. You

will find that the questions in the assignments are analytical and descriptive so that you can better

understand and comprehend the concepts.

All the best!

Programme Coordinators WWF-India & NLU, Delhi

ASSIGNMENT I

COURSE 1: INTRODUCTION TO URBAN GOVERNANCE

Last date of submission: Please See Time-Line provided in Programme Guide Total Marks: 40

Note: All questions are compulsory.

Section-I

Answer any four questions; each question should be answered in about 1500 words. Each question carries 10 marks. (4x10 = 40)

1. ‘The onset of modern and universal process of urbanization is relatively a recent phenomenon

and is closely related with industrial revolution and associated economic development. Historical evidence suggests that urbanization process is inevitable and universal’. Elucidate and support with case studies of any two developing countries.

2. Review the below statistics and provide an analytical opinion on changing forest cover and how much of it can be attributed to the growing urban requirements. How much of forest land can we compromise for developmental activities?

3. ‘The roots of India's multiculturalism extend back over three thousand years. Some scholars say that the Vedic Aryans had descended from the easternmost wing of an Indo-European dispersion originating in the Caucasus (there are various conflicting theories of Aryan origin), who poured over the Khyber, Bolan, and other passes of the Hindu Kush mountains. These people with their string and powerful hordes took over most of the pre- Aryan civilizations that existed in the Indus Valley. According to many, pre-Aryan people were probably proto-Dravidian-speaking people and most probably migrated to India from East Africa. Their knowledge was goods and they had an organized system of living with sewages and other facilities which made sure that the people did not suffer from rampant diseases’. Explain multiculturalism by tracing historic time-line. Did this concept further emerge in India?

4. The Ministry of Urban Development had extended the JNNURM Action Plan for a period of 2

years. Initially, the project was designed for a normal tenure of five years. Numerous projects were left unfinished by March 2012 which had led to the extension. Government in a statement stated that “utilization of funds for purposes such as capacity building including Project Management Unit (PMU), Project Implementation Unit, Administrative and other expenses which are ancillary to implementation of JNNURM have also been extended.” Below graph indicates physical and financial progress:

As it can be seen from the bar graph above, there is good distribution shown in the different kinds of projects under the JNNURM. However, despite these funds, the implementers of the projects were unsuccessful in utilizing the funds efficiently and completing the projects on time. More funds were given out to larger cities in comparison to the smaller and medium sized cities. Further, the impetus was also on improving the living conditions and providing better healthcare and other basic services. Comment on how countries have such lucrative and well thought out plans in written format (theory) but they mostly/largely fail in implementation. What are the causes behind delay in providing the countrymen/women with planned activities?

5. Of late there is strong debate making rounds on irregular housing, about faulty planning and

huge conversion of agricultural land into residential complexes/real estate development. Is there any logic in such vertical and horizontal growth? If you are assigned the job of town/city planner what design you would ideally suggest keeping in mind the growing food requirements which only agriculture can provide?

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

60000

70000

Urban Infrastructure

and Governance

(UIG)

Urban Infrastructure Development

Scheme for Small and Medium Towns

(UIDSSMT)

Basic Services to the

Urban Poor (BSUP)

Integrated Housing and Slum

Development Programme

(IHSDP)

Total

7 year Allocation (in Rs. Cr)