Policy Recommendations to Prevent Loss of Agricultural Lands and Livelihood of Agricultural Communities in Indian Growing Cities

Abstract

India is primarily an agriculture base country and undergoing tremendous development in the sectors of technology, industry and IT sectors. Cities are rapidly growing and undergoing rapid unstoppable urbanization.  In 2011, India's urban population was 377 million, and it will be 600 million by 2031. India's rapid urbanization threatens arable land. Urbanization consumes 0.12 million hectares of agricultural land annually in India.. This paper aims to recommande changes in existing planning policies in India that are responsible for agricultural land loss and devastation of livelihood of agricultural communities in the process of urbanization. Planning policies are studied and compaired in detail for the developing cities of Pune and Bangalore with respect to regional plans and development plans of respective cities. The study reveals tremendous shift in planning policies over the period of time giving priority to development agenda for economic development of the region without giving deu consideration to preservation of farmlands that are coming under urbanization for all these growing cities. Many of the planning policies are common for all cities studied however few policies are seen to be in consideration to local conditions and political agenda. Study demand an immediate intervention towards planning weaknesses and change the few of the planning policies that can help preserving the farmlands that are coming under urbanization.