National Town and Country Planners Congress in Hyd from Feb 2

The 66th National Town and Country Planners Congress would be held here from February 2 to 4.
The conference, organised by the Institute of Town Planners, India (ITPI), would deliberate on issues of urban environmental planning and urban flooding, D S Meshram, President, Emeritus ITPI, told reporters today.
"In India, more than half the population is expected to live in urban areas by 2050. Urbanisation is expected to increase from 31 per cent in 2011 to over 50 per cent by 2050. It will open opportunities as well as challenges for the country," Meshram said.
The consequences of the absence of environmental approach to urban planning can be seen in the intense rainfall in Chennai and Mumbai, he said.

Air quality issues in Delhi, drought in Maharashtra, floods in Bihar and Orissa are also examples to the absence of such an approach, he said.