Urban Environmental Issues and Governance Related Challenges in Fringe Area of Mega-cities: A Case of Khora Colony, Ghaziabad, India

Abstract

Urban environment and its spatial development in India is one of the most difficult challenges, particularly study outlying areas of the city, difficult to maintain a safe urban environment and managing urban morphology. Present research, researchers trying to unfold the hidden story behind the development of cities, scenario of fringe areas of megacities where has maximum population and minimum governance( govern by responsible institutions); as a result unplanned and uncontrolled areas are mushrooming peripheries of the cities. Through this work researchers trying to find out the urban environmental issues of NCR and Khora (Urban Fringe Area), a marginalized, insecure, highly dense census town, exists between three developed cities of Delhi-Ghaziabad-Noida at the edge of these developed cities. The research work focused to investigate human-centric issues in urban sphare like shortage of water supply, sewage disposal, municipal waste, unhealthy open spaces, and air - water pollution. The article has asked questions and is trying to search out answers based on the basic needs of urban dwellers. Researchers have adopted ethnographical studies and qualitative methodologies to know the localities, planning and geopsychology of Khora colony.

Introduction

The 21st century is marked as the "urban century" due to rapid urbanization globally. In developing countries like India, urban growth is often seen as a symbol of development, yet this growth is deeply uneven and environmentally unsustainable. Indian cities, including Delhi, are expanding rapidly, with urban fringes like Khora Colony facing acute socio-political and environmental issues.

Urbanization in India and the Problem of Unequal Development

Post-independence urban growth in India has favored economic hubs while marginalizing peripheral areas. Political decisions, biased investments, and poor governance have led to uneven development, creating spatial and social inequalities. Urban geographers argue that this has resulted in a lack of human sensitivity toward sustainable resource use and increased conflicts in urban fringes.

Khora Colony: A Case of Marginalization

Khora, a dense urban settlement near Delhi, Ghaziabad, and Noida, exemplifies these issues. Initially an agricultural village, Khora transformed due to migration and informal settlement. Despite housing nearly 190,000 people, it was not recognized as a town until 2016. It suffers from:

• Lack of formal infrastructure

• Unauthorized constructions

• Poor urban planning

• A high concentration of low-income migrant workers

Key Urban Environmental Issues in Khora

1. Sanitation and Waste Management:

   • Widespread lack of waste collection services.

   • Garbage is dumped in open spaces and public areas.

   • Lack of sewage and drainage systems; many open drains.

   • Public toilets and water facilities are virtually non-existent.

2. Air Pollution:

   • Proximity to Ghazipur landfill severely affects air quality.

   • Poor AQI levels comparable to the worst-hit areas in Delhi and NCR.

   • Health risks are prominent, especially respiratory diseases.

3. Safety and Security:

   • Insufficient policing (only one station for ~1 million people).

   • Lack of street lights and public safety infrastructure.

   • Unsafe for women and children, particularly at night.

   • Minimal health infrastructure; residents rely on overburdened Delhi hospitals.

4. Financial Inclusion:

   • Only one government bank (SBI).

   • Low access to banking for women and migrants.

   • Many residents rely on informal money transfer services.

5. Education and Awareness:

   • Over 100 private schools operate without proper regulation.

   • Poor infrastructure and unqualified staff.

   • Political awareness is high, but civic engagement is low.

Socioeconomic Profile

Khora is dominated by lower and lower-middle-income groups, with most residents working in informal sectors like carpentry, welding, security, and construction. Migrants mainly come from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, and other nearby states, drawn by employment opportunities in the NCR but unable to afford housing in Delhi or Noida.

Governance and Participation

There is a severe disconnect between local governance and community needs. Poor municipal engagement and lack of participatory urban planning have worsened living conditions. The research argues for the necessity of:

• Micro-level planning (e.g., solid waste, water management)

• Macro-level interstate cooperation for pollution control

• Increased people’s participation in urban development

• Inclusive and human-friendly urban design

Conclusion

Most people are aware and have realized the importance of these facilities and amenities to make their living condition and spaces better. The nature of the space itself is one where these needs are not fulfilled due to low support and initiatives from the government. Affordability is privatised,residents purchase these (above mentioned) services from the residents. Government and governance must prioritise such marginalized populations and provide basic services to Indian citizens. Urbanization and economic development are not sufficient for people, they requires education, health facilities, water and safe living spaces with a sustaining environment. Uneven distribution of resources and jobs are responsible for migration and social conflicts. Everyday geographic life and technologies make people more mobilized. Therefore, the feudalistic republican system must be considered for social welfare approaches. Khora village seems to be a place where migrants, especially from the lower classes, have flexibly fulfilled whatever their needs are. Because all citizens are a part of a system, the government should work properly not only for vote politics but also for state-nation development.

References

[1] Bhagat, R.B. (1992).Components of Urban Growth in India with Reference to Haryana: Findings from Recent Censuses, Nagarlok, vol. 25, no.3, pp.10-14 [2] Clarke A. P., Huet, G. and Peterson, G. (2008). Lessons for the urban century: Decentralized infrastructure finance in the World Bank. Washington, DC: World Bank. [3] Datta, A. (2012). The Illegal City: Space, law and Gender in a Delhi Squatter Settlement.New York and London.Routledge. [4] Dubey, S. (2014). ‘Accumulation at Margins: The case of Khora Colony’, Accumulation in post-colonial capitalism. Editd.Mitra, Iman Kumar, Samaddar, Ranabir , Sen Samita. Delhi, Springer,. P.109-123 [5] Gurjar B. R. and Nagpure A. S, (2015), Indian megacities as localities of environmental vulnerability from air quality perspective. Journal of Smart Cities, vol.1 (1): 15–30. http://dx.doi.org/10.18063/JSC.2015.01.003 [6] Harvey,D. (2008). “Right to the city” https://newleftreview.org/II/53/david-harvey-the-right-to-the-city. [7] McFarlane, C. 2011, ‘The city as assemblage: dwelling and urban space’, Environment and Planning D: Society and Space 2011, vol. 29: 649-671 [8] NOIDA (1983), ‘Draft Master Plan Noida 2001’ .Retrieved from http://www.noidaauthorityonline.com/MasterPlanNew/MASTER-PLAN- 2001.pdf accessed on September 10, 2013 [9] NOIDA (1989) NOIDA (1983), ‘Draft Master Plan Noida 2001’ . Retrieved from http://www.noidaauthorityonline.com/MasterPlanNew/MASTER-PLAN- 2001.pdf accessed on September 10, 2013 [10] OECD. (2015). The metropolitan century: Understanding urbanisation and its consequences. (Policy Highlights). Paris: OECD. [11] Rao, M. S. A.(1962) ‘Economic Change and ‘Rationality’ in a Fringe Village’, The Economic Weekly, September. [12] Rao, M. S. A. (1966). ‘Urbanisation in Delhi Village: Some Social Aspects’, Economic and Political Weekly, and Vol. 1, No. 9. [13] Sinha, M. M. P. (1980). The Impact of Urbanization on Land-use in the Rural-Urban Fringe : a Case Study of Patna, , New Delhi, Concept Publication. [14] Sundaram, K.V. (2004) The Trodden Path, New Delhi. Anamaya Publishers. [15] Swerts E. (2017) The Substantial Share of Small Towns in India’s System of Cities, Denis E. and Zérah M. H. Subaltern Urbanisation in India (ed.), 2017, Springer, India [16] Trindade et al. ( 2017). Sustainable development of smart cities: a systematic review of the literature. , Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity 2017, 3:11 DOI 10.1186/s40852-017-0063-2 [17] UNDESA., (2014). World urbanization prospects: The 2014 revision. New York: UNDESA. [18] UN-Habitat, (2009). Global report on human settlements: Planning sustainable cities, Policy directions. Nairobi: UN-Habitat. [19] Yadav C. S., (1989). ‘Psychological Implications of Rural-Urban Migration: A Case Study of Delhi’.edit. Perceptual and Cognitive image of the City. New Delhi, Concept Publishing Company. [20] Yigitcanlar, T., & Lee, S. H. (2014). Korean ubiquitouseco-city: A smart-sustainable urban form or a branding hoax?. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, vol. 89: 100–114.

Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Dr. Deepak Kumar Dipankar. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.