India's urban population has increased from 27.80 per cent in 2001 to 31.10 per cent in 2011 recording a 3.30 per cent growth which was witnessed most in southern states and union territories of the country, the government said today.
Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu in a written reply informed the Lok Sabha that people living in urban areas have increased by over nine crore during this period.
"Four southern states, six Union territories besides the states of Gujarat, Goa, Haryana, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura have led this growth in urbanisation," Naidu said.
He said that as against the national trend, urban population in the southern states increased by 21.70 per cent in Kerala, 6.10 per cent in undivided Andhra Pradesh, 4.70 per cent in Karnataka and 4.40 per cent in Tamil Nadu.
The increase in respect of UTs has been - Daman and Diu (39.00per cent), Lakshadweep (33.60 per cent), Dadra and Nagar-Haveli (23.80 per cent), Chandigarh (7.50), Delhi (4.30 per cent), Andaman and Nicobar Islands(5.10 per cent). Puducherry reported an increase of only 1.70 per cent.
Other states to have exceeded national average in urbanisation included Goa (22.40 per cent), Sikkim (14.10 per cent), Nagaland (10.70 per cent), Haryana(6.0 per cent), Gujarat (5.20 per cent), Uttarakhand (4.50 per cent), West Bengal (3.90 per cent) and Punjab (3.60 per cent).
Major states to have fallen below the national average in urban growth included Himachal Pradesh (only 0.20 per cent increase in urban population), Uttar Pradesh (0.50 per cent). Bihar(0.80 per cent), Assam (1.20 per cent), Rajasthan (1.50 per cent), Odisha (1.70 per cent) Jharkhand (1.80 per cent) and Maharashtra (2.80 per cent).
In reply to another question, Naidu said Delhi was sanctioned 23 infrastructure projects under the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) at a total cost of Rs 6,649.55 crore out of which central assistance has been Rs 2,327.34 crore.
Naidu stated that the per capita water supply in urban areas is 69.20 litres per day as against the bench mark of 135 litres. He also said that the average coverage of water supply connections is 50.20 per cent as against the bench mark of 100 per cent.
