UPSC DAW Mains Answer Writing 26th June 2025

UPSC DAW Mains Answer Writing 26th June 2025

Question

Urbanisation in India has led to rising urban temperatures and ecological stress, disproportionately affecting vulnerable communities. Examine the societal implications of current urban planning and afforestation strategies in addressing these challenges. (10 marks, 150 words) 

Model Answer

Introduction:  

  • India’s rapid urbanisation has led to the emergence of urban heat islands, loss of native ecosystems, and socio-ecological inequities. According to NITI Aayog’s “Healthy Cities Index” (2022), rising urban temperatures disproportionately impact low-income groups with limited access to green cover and climate-resilient infrastructure. 

 Societal Implications of Urban Planning and Afforestation Strategies: 

  •  Ecological Inequity:  

  • Poorer urban communities face higher exposure to heat and pollution due to lack of access to green spaces. 

  • E.g. Bengaluru’s heat island zones overlap with low-income settlements (IIHS, 2024 study) 

  • Unscientific Afforestation & Biodiversity Loss: 

  • Non-native tree species (e.g., Jacaranda, Tabebuia) used in city beautification reduce local biodiversity and offer minimal heat mitigation. 

  • E.g. 77% of Bengaluru’s tree cover is exotic (IIHS) 

  • Loss of Native Habitats: 

  • Wetlands, grasslands, and open ecosystems are often replaced by tree plantations, impacting species adapted to open habitats. 

  • E.g. Pune’s hilltop savannahs support bird species that decline with tree plantation (Gokhale Institute, 2023) 

  • Reduced Livelihood Resilience: 

  • Urban poor relying on ecosystem services (e.g., fishing in wetlands, fodder from commons) face declining incomes as green spaces shrink. 

  • E.g. East Kolkata Wetlands, crucial for urban waste recycling and livelihoods, are under threat from encroachment. 

  • Inequitable Access to Green Infrastructure: 

  • Affluent areas are prioritised in greening efforts; public parks often restrict entry, excluding vulnerable groups. 

  • E.g. Delhi’s Lodhi Garden is accessible, while poorer neighbourhoods have minimal green buffers. 

  • Youth Disengagement from Ecology: 

  • Over-sanitised or fenced green spaces restrict youth engagement with nature and reduce ecological literacy. 

  • E.g. Contrast with participatory models like the Miyawaki urban forests in Kerala that involve local schools. 

  • Cultural Disconnect from Green Spaces: 

  • Tree plantations with non-native species create aesthetic but ecologically sterile spaces that lack traditional medicinal or cultural value. 

  • E.g. Sacred groves and native fruit-bearing trees are ignored in urban greening. 

  • Heat-related Health Inequities: 

  • Slum dwellers without tree cover suffer more from heat stress, respiratory issues, and water scarcity. 

  • E.g. National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA, 2023) found high correlation between tree deficit and heat illness in informal settlements. 

 Way Forward: 

  • Adopt Ecologically Informed Urban Planning: 

  • Integrate urban biodiversity registers, land-use history, and ecosystem service mapping in city master plans. (As suggested in the “National Biodiversity Action Plan” (MoEFCC)) 

  • Promote Native and Mixed Habitat Restoration: 

  • Restore urban wetlands, grasslands, and groves, not just forests. 

  • E.g. Pune’s Vetal Tekdi grasslands and Delhi’s Yamuna floodplains restoration models. 

  • Democratise Access to Green Spaces: 

  • Ensure equitable green cover through minimum green space per capita mandates in urban policies. 

  • World Health Organization recommends 9 sq.m/person green space. 

  • Inclusive Urban Afforestation Policies: 

  • Involve local communities, ecologists, and indigenous knowledge systems in afforestation decisions. 

  • People’s Biodiversity Registers under the Biological Diversity Act (2002). 

  • Climate-Sensitive Zoning and Infrastructure: 

  • Promote cool roofs, shaded streets, water-sensitive urban design (WSUD), and blue-green infrastructure for low-income zones. 

  • NITI Aayog’s “Urban Cooling Action Plan” (Draft, 2023) supports such approaches. 

 Conclusion:  

  • Urban afforestation and planning, if poorly designed, can aggravate ecological degradation and social exclusion. As emphasised in the National Urban Policy Framework (MoHUA, 2018), India needs an inclusive urban ecosystem approach, one that integrates native biodiversity, equitable access to green spaces, and climate resilience, to ensure cities remain livable for all.