URBAN SPRAWL AND ITS IMPACT ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH QUALITY: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PORT HARCOURT AND SELECTED CITIES

Urban sprawl refers to general increase in population and the amount of industrialization of a settlement. It includes increase in the number and extent of cities. It symbolizes the movement of people from rural to urban areas. urban sprawl happens because of the increase in the extent and density of urban areas. Due to uncontrolled urban sprawl in India, environmental degradation has been occurring very rapidly and causing many problems like land insecurity, worsening water quality, excessive air pollution, noise and the problems of waste disposal. This paper emphasizes on the effect of urban sprawl on environmental components mainly climate, biosphere, land and water resources. A case study of urban sprawl in Port Harcourt metropolitan have been carried out leading to conclude on the existing causes of damage to the environment due to urban sprawl and preventive measures to keep a check on them. Although it is impossible to restrict urban sprawl it has to be ensured that urban sprawl proceeds in the right path causing minimum influence on environment