Scoping review to understand planning approach for urban development in ecologically sensitive Hilly areas

Urban areas are complex systems that rely on their surrounding environmental components for sustained functionality and development. Their natural surroundings provides resources which are necessary for the production of goods and services, while consecutively mitigating and managing pollutants and waste materials. So, the socio-economic development of a region must be aligned with its environmental sustainability. While urbanization is deemed essential for nation’s development, but poses notable disruptions and degradation of surrounding ecologically vulnerable areas. The urban areas which are located along or within an ecological fragile regions are even more sensitive to developmental process, but these areas plays an essential role in maintaining ecological equilibrium, secures urban environment and ecological security but they often bear the brunt of developmental pressures. This underscores the importance of addressing the adverse impacts of regulations governing urban development within or in proximity to these ecologically sensitive areas, for the sustainable growth of the region. This review aims to understand the academic literature on development of urban areas in ecologically sensitive areas and to identify the relevant concepts, theories and gaps in the subject, while suggesting a better alternative to plan and design an urban area while maintaining the ecological balance and ensures sustainability of the concerned setting.