Urban green spaces and their indispensable necessity in the context of cities experiencing rapid urbanization in India: An analysis of current trends and future implications

Year 2025, Volume: 8 Issue: 2, 122 - 134, 25.12.2025

Anshul Jain , Dr. Ananda Babu K.

Abstract

Urbanization presents numerous opportunities for the advancement of economic, social, and technological sectors, providing advantages to society in terms of enhanced living standards, healthcare services, and employment prospects. Nevertheless, overcrowding, and environmental degradation stand out as significant drawbacks of urbanization. To achieve sustainable and eco-friendly urban development, there is a critical necessity for comprehensive land use planning and management of urban settlements, emphasizing the creation and preservation of urban green spaces (UGS) like parks, gardens, and roadside vegetation. UGS is crucial in reducing air pollution, addressing climate change, and delivering various ecosystem services. The degradation of UGS is notably pronounced due to rapid urbanization in developing nations such as India. This analysis focuses on outlining the myriad challenges associated with establishing and upholding UGS in the Indian context, drawing from available reports highlighting issues related to inadequate land use and urban settlement planning. The obstacles linked with the supervision and upkeep of UGS are delineated, with improper and irregular watering of many existing UGS emerging as a major concern among various others that demand urgent attention to mitigate the deterioration of UGS in certain Indian cities. As groundwater reservoirs are depleting swiftly due to escalating water demands, the neglectful and sporadic watering of UGS is exacerbating their decline. This review also explores a range of potential solutions and opportunities for UGS in cities aspiring to transition into smart cities. Implementing efficient wastewater treatment and non-potable reuse systems represent viable solutions for enhancing the prospects of UGS, fostering optimism for the development of cities with minimal urban heat island effects.

Keywords

urbanization , urban green spaces , climate change , wastewater management

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