Page 63 - The World About Us

Vietnam slum
1.1.1
1.1.1
2.2.3
2.2.5

What are the consequences of rapid urban growth?

Throughout history ci es have The reality of urban living for many
expanded far more quickly than the of the new arrivals is not o en as
city authori es, in whatever form, posi ve as the percep on they held
have expected or been prepared for. while living in the countryside.
While some ci es have had careful However, once in the city new arrivals
planning during their expansion, such tend to make the most of their new
as Singapore, most have grown in a circumstances, se ling down or, a er a
much more haphazard manner. while, moving on to the next, bigger
London and Manchester in the 19th and 'brighter' city.
Century, were notorious for their fig.171 Living by the tracks, Kolkata, India. In this way, the rural-to-urban
slums of poor housing with no migra on of many developing countries
sanita on or clean water, terrible air the pace of urban growth. is described as 'step wise'. Migrants
pollu on and violent crime. Today, Ci es cast a glamour over their first move from their village to the local
many of the world's rapidly expanding surrounding regions. For many rural town or city. From there they may
ci es are facing the same problems. dwellers city life appears to offer the move again, migra ng to a larger
In many cases, a empts by city prospect of a be er life. The pull factors regional city, conurba on or the capital.
authori es to deal with some of the associated with the city are powerful Some migrants may travel further,
problems are simply overwhelmed by lures, drawing in millions each year. ending up in ci es abroad.

Criminal gangs can operate in
What are slums and why do they develop? areas which are seen as no-go places
One of the most common features adequate supplies of water or for the police. Drug taking is common
of rapid urban growth is the sanita on. There are few roads, as in many slums, with violence erup ng
development of informal se lements houses are packed closely together to between different gangs, vying for
or slums. As ci es grow, the best maximise the available space. control of the trade, as well as with the
quality building land is quickly snapped Electricity is o en supplied illegally, police.
up by developers or hoarded as an With slums built on government or
and very dangerously, by tapping into
asset by the super-wealthy. privately-owned land, there is the ever-
the grid at the nearest access point.
Poorer quality land, alongside roads Power can disappear when these present risk of evic on by the city
and railways, on marshy flood plains or breaches are repaired by the power authori es or landowners.
steep hillsides, is o en the only place companies. In some cases of slum clearances
available for new migrants to se le. the residents are rehoused by the
Life in the slums is precarious.
Informal se lements, o en Unemployment and under- authori es in new proper es. In many
constructed of scavenged materials, employment is rife, with many people cases the slum dwellers are simply
quickly spring up. As they are working in insecure jobs in the informal moved on, le to fend for themselves,
unplanned the slums do not have sector. finding a new home in a new slum.
fig.172 Life in the slums: Dhaka, Bangladesh.
KEY TERMS

Informal settlement: areas of poor
quality housing, often built illegally by
new arrivals to cities in EDCs and
LIDCs. They may develop more
permanent characteristics over time.
Often called slums, they are also
called favelas (Brazil), barrios
(Venezuala, Peru), villas miseria
(Argentina), squatter towns (South
Africa), katchi abadis (Pakistan),
bustees (Kolkata), patra chawls
(Mumbai), vijiji (Kenya), aashwa’i
(Cairo), tanake (Lebanon) and shanty
towns (Caribbean).
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Ther
Many factors contribute to a country’s economic development.e are causes and consequences of rapid urbanisation in LIDCs.