UNPLANNED LAND UTILIZATION AND LIVING ENVIRONMENT OF SLUM DWELLERS OF KALIKA COLONY OF JAMMU CITY AND ITS IMPACT ON URBAN LIFE

HARDEV SINGH; SALONI

Volume : V, Issue : I, January - 2015

UNPLANNED LAND UTILIZATION AND LIVING ENVIRONMENT OF SLUM DWELLERS OF KALIKA COLONY OF JAMMU CITY AND ITS IMPACT ON URBAN LIFE

Hardev Singh, Saloni

Abstract :

India is one of the largest country in the world. There is a great disparity in not only in its morphological structure but in socio–economic and in other cultural aspects as well. On the one hand we have world largest cities; on the other hand we have largest slum areas as well like Dharavi in Mumbai. Slums in Jammu city rise day by day. Slum of kalika colony in Bawe area are very congested and the environmental conditions of the slum are very poor. Migration from villages to cities creates many socio–economic problems. The density of population of cities rises and civic amenities fall short of needs. Law and order situation deteriorates. Prices of essential commodities rise. Housing situation become acute and rents soar. New entrants start living on pavements and thatched huts and slum develops. Basic amenities like electricity, potable water, toilets may be lacking in slums and there is no drainage. Heaps of garbage is found here and there .Hygienic conditions are not there–thus slum dweller fall easy prey to diseases like cholera, malaria, jaundice etc. During rainy season; it is real hell for slum dweller. Houses in the form of huts, thatched huts, Juggies, tents etc are very closely spaced and very dense with population. Parents, Grandparents and children all are living in a single tent. Some families have even more than 20 persons in single hut of 1 Marla. It leads to many ill and mental problems of their children. Slums are considered to be the major issue within many urban areas.