PEOPLE'S PERCEPTION REGARDING POSSIBLE IMPACT OF URBANIZATION ON ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION IN ISLAMABAD

Abstract

Urbanization is the process in which green space (fields, trees, wetlands, etc.) is converted into black space (concrete and asphalt). Urbanization occurs because people move from rural areas to urban areas. This usually occurs when a countly is still developing. Slums and its consequences of overcrowding lack of sanitation, global warming, air pollution, water pollution and loss of forest cover, agriculture land and depletion of wildlife are the major outcome of urbanization. This present study is a quantitative research entitled "People's Perception Regarding possible impact of Urbanization on Environmental Degradation in Islamabad". The environmental challenges are primarily associated with rapid urbanization and this urbanization is mostly unplanned and haphazard and rises to environmental issues such as; pollution, poor drainage system, poor quality of drinking water and hygienic conditions. In this research the researcher collected the data from three different sectors of Islamabad city though multistage sampling technique. A self-administrated questionnaire was used as a tool of data collection. From the investigation of the data it was found that there is a strong relationship between the urbanization and increasing environmental issues in the cities, such as poor sanitation and drainage system, hygienic problems, air pollution and deforestation etc. The results of the research show that there is a critical linkage between urbanization, environment, pollution growth and pollution. The researcher suggests monitoring the migration from rural to urban areas though provision of basic facilities in rural areas. On the other hand awareness campaigns and provision of basic facilities to the rural people (education, health, food and employment in basic decision making) can reduce this problem.