Spatial Inequality in Urban Green Spaces and its Impact on Public Health: A case Study of Siliguri, West Bengal, India

Urban green spaces are essential for improving city dwellers' health and well-being, especially in areas that are urbanising quickly. The spatial distribution of green spaces and their association with mental and physical health in the Siliguri Municipal Corporation area in West Bengal, India, are the subjects of this study. At the ward level, green space areas were retrieved and measured in this study. Green space per capita and green space as a percentage of the entire ward area were then determined using these. At the same time, 150 residents participated in a primary survey to gather data on their physical and mental health. Pearson correlation was used to statistically analyse the results. According to the findings, wards with more green space typically have noticeably better health outcomes. Notably, there is a statistically significant positive association (r = 0.853) between green space and mental health and a similar correlation (r = 0.906) between green space and physical health at the 0.01 level. These results highlight how crucial it is to distribute green space fairly as a factor in determining urban health. According to the study, in order to alleviate health inequities and enhance the standard of living in every ward of the city, urban planners should incorporate green infrastructure into their future development plans.