POPULATION PRESSURES IN SHIMLA: CHALLENGES AND PERSPECTIVES

Political Science

Shimla is popularly known as the queen of hills and it is declared the summer capital of colonial India in 1864 to 1947. After 1947 Shimla became the capital of East Punjab and was later made the capital of Himachal Pradesh. Shimla known as Simla, the official name until 1972. Simla was derived from word 'Shyamla' meaning take it another name of the Goddess Kali. It has been blessed with all the natural bounties of seven hills in the northwest Himalayas. Shimla announced the capital of the Himachal Pradesh in 1966 and emerge as a center of cultural, educational, tourism, commercial and administrative activities. Rapidly growth of these activities Shimla become over-crowded city and major urban hubs. Massive immigration from rural areas and unplanned growth of urban Shimla creates many problems as overcrowding, disposal of garbage and sewerage problems, degradation of environment, pollution of waterfalls and streams, illegal mining activity insufficient water availability in summer time, deforestation and illegal encroachment in forest land, problems of monkeys and languor, poor air and water quality, insufficient water availability, waste disposal problems, and high energy consumption, slums settlements problems, high rate of crime, housing and transportation, parking issues. Transportation and traffic is immense issue cause of the tourist spot as well as the capital of Himachal Pradesh. Research paper analyzing the challenges and exploring pathways for solutions.

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