Infrastructure Development, Emerging Problems of Concretization, and Sustainable Practices: An Econometric Analysis of Delhi Metropolitan Region

In a rapidly urbanising India, population is burgeoning and multiplying at a very fast rate especially in cities and towns. This results in increased pressure on available land resources and tends to be acute in metropolitan cities and urban areas, creating many problems like congestion, development of slums, concretization etc. Delhi metropolitan region stands as a very good example and testimony to this. In the rapidly urbanizing city of Delhi, 'concrete', thus, becomes a necessity for accommodating the large population providing the necessary infrastructural facilities, thus, adversely impacting the environment. This paper aims to study the trends in population growth, the increasing level of concretization and to identify the major areas affected in Delhi metropolitan Region. The primary aim of this paper is to explore and assess the expansion of built-up areas and the necessity of concretisation in the study area, to identify the adverse effects of concretisation on different aspects of environment and to analyse the current trend and to find the sustainable aspects in solution. This study uses three types of data, i.e., primary data, secondary data and satellite data, to study the trends in population growth, to explore and assess the expansion of built-up areas and the necessity of concretisation in the study area. The survey was conducted via well-structured questionnaire floated to 100 respondents in two contrasting locations in Delhi. It asked questions that aimed to better understand the relationships between respondent’s personal background, knowledge and awareness about concretization and its adverse effects on environment, change in temperature and ground water level in Delhi Metropolitan Region and in the two chosen study area in particular. Information is gathered through personal interviews and face to face interactions. Observation methos was also resorted to. Secondary sources of data collected include, Census of India, 2011, Satellite Imageries including LANDSAT, Indian Meteorological Department and other government reports and published periodicals and articles. Correlation, Trend Analysis and Z-test have been used to determine whether two population means are different when the variances are known, and the sample size is large. GIS softwares like Quantum-GIS and Map Info have been used. The findings of the study show a strong and positive correlation between increasing levels of concretization and environmental degradation across two chosen contrasting locations in Delhi representing varying levels of concretization, temperature patterns and ground water levels. The highest increase in built-up area and level of concretization was observed in the northern, western, and south-western sub-districts of Delhi. The present study attempts to provide possible measures to reduce the level of concretisation and to find better substitutes to solve and mitigate the environmental concerns, thereby promoting sustainability of the area through urban development. Use of Low Carbon Cement, Green Concrete, Accrete, Permeable Pavements Grasscrete etc. can go a long way for a sustainable future achieving the mission of Sustainable Development Goals: 2030.