Urban Settlement Pattern and Growth Dynamics in Northwest Himalaya

Abstract

The urban settlements in Northwest Himalaya (NWH) are experiencing a rapid pace of urbanization. However, this development is rather skewed in nature. The hilly regions of NWH are experiencing a negligible growth in their population, whereas the population pressure is rising in urban settlements at foothills. One of the primary reasons is the lack of economic opportunities and infrastructural facilities. The economic base of these hilly urban settlements, which is mainly based on tourism, was further eroded due to the recent series of natural disasters. A direct outcome has been reduction in the tax base of urban local bodies, due to which they are now struggling to sustain their existing infrastructure leave apart its augmentation.