Countryside Housing Debate

There is a growing demand for housing to meet the exponential growth in population.The city of Mumbai, being the financial capital of india provides a wide range of job opportunities and hence results in attracting a large population of rural india. Considering the space constraints and the increase in demand for housing , government has implemented various projects and handed over green luscious lands to builders for building houses. Since the main city barely has any space to accomodate more housing, there has been a gradual shift to countryside to accomodate people's demands.I completely agree with the fact that it is important to protect the countryside to maintain ecological balance. Deforestation disrupts our natural ecosystem. Forests are inhabited by a vast variety of birds and animals. We humans disrupt the homes of other species for our selfish needs. The impact is very cleary visible. The Air Quality Index has become harmful for human inhabitation owing to deforestation and pollution caused by increase in the number of automobiles. There is a visibly dwindling population of various bird species especially sparrows , pigeons and crows.The lakes are polluted, fishes are dying swallowing plastic and there also increasing number of ailments affecting the human population. It is an alarming situation. We as humans need to realise that it is extremely important to protect our ecosystem for the future generations. We need to safeguard mother earth for basic needs like clean drinking water , non polluted breathing air and for pesticide free fruits and vegetables. We can encourage students to grow a plant in their summer vacations, about the importance of waste segregation and the importance of recycling wastes. We as responsible citizens should actively work towards protecting our planet earth.

In contemporary society, the increase in population has created a demand for building new homes. This in turn has propelled the authorities to develop the untouched expanses of the countryside. This encroachment ignites the debate between accomodatin the growing numbers of people and preserving the natural landscapes. In my opinion, it is imperative to build homes keeping in consideration judicious development with stringent methods to safeguard the environment. Developing the countryside is an undeniable need to construct housing for the large numbers of urban poplulation. There is little room for expansion in the urban areas whereas, the rural land offers a blank canvas to growth and prosperity in terms of construction. Employing green building technologies and recycling water procedures with active utilisation of solar energy can ensure a positive growth for the rural areas. A well-planned system can help in reducing urban congestion as well as create a balanced advancement in the countryside. Coversely, the rural landscapes hold tremendous value not only for the eco-system but also for cultural and aesthetic reasons. Rural areas offer natural greenery for the masses and for the animal life. Hence, any development should prioritize preservation of bio-diversity. The authorities should also consider to protect the natural habitat as much as possible. In conclusion, it is imperative to maintain a steady mindset to build new accomodations in the countryside in order to preserve the natural heritage. The balanced thought process offers a pragmatic approach to maintain the pressing problem of accomodation and sustainable growth in the countryside.

In my opinion, protecting the countryside from any ecological imbalance is more vital than building new settlements. I will be presenting a few arguments in the next section to support my answer. It is very important to protect the countryside from the increasing construction of new buildings, as they cause some serious problems that are not easy to cope with. Currently, many regions are indeed experiencing shortages of new housing. However, the problem of increasing population in the countryside is more concerning. The growing population in the villages is leading to problems like scarcity of water and other natural resources, along with increased congestion in the roads and local markets. For example, the town I used to live in when I was a kid had a beautiful landscape with mountains and lakes. But in the last decade, due to recent constructions, the area has experienced deforestation and mountaintop mining. This has severely affected the town's scenery and habitat. Due to new settlements, the migration rate has elevated, leading to a rise in all kinds of pollution in the region. Hence, we can notice that just a minor change in the ecosystem can have a great impact on a neighborhood. To conclude, we can say that anything over the limit is not healthy. New constructions in the countryside will make the area look developed, but it will highly impact the local forests and wildlife. As a human being, it is our responsibility to guard the conserved habitat from any harm across the world. This requires teamwork from all the people on earth, as it is a concern for our own and our future generation's well-being.

When one looks at major metropolition cities of India, immigration is the first problem that is eyed. This has lead to cities housing more people than they were supposed to, which is why there are multiple suburbs that have come up. Hence the idea of exploring housing opportunities on the periphery of the cities at the same time also acoount that can harm the ecological balace. I agree, we need to protect the countryside but there has to be a two-way solution to it, as will never be a time when a metro's population will fall hence expanding is the only way out and while doing so the planning department needs to strategize these expansions and tailor laws to maintain harmony with the surroundings. The idea why cities can expand without harming the flora and fauna is there are rules and regulations build around how a piece of land is supposed to be used and what are the limitations one needs to keep in mind while doing it. For example taking a note of the bandra-kurla-complex region coming up was to declutter the city and in order to do so, the swamp part of land was reclaimed but the mangrooves were untouched. They still protect the coastal edge and helps to maintain the ecolgical balance. Another approach to understand how limitations protect biosphere of a space is to keep a check on the type of design and practise of construction methodologies that are approved in the region. Such a city exists in Tamil Nadu, the city of Auroville has laid down a set of rules on how the town will be built and what practices the home owner are to follow in order to give back to nature. The houses are built of local materials and they a part of land is left for cultivation of kitchen produce that helps cut down on the carbon footprint. In conclusion, cities will never stop growing but it is up to the nation on how efficiently we use the land and harmonize with the nature that shelters us instead of blindly destroying everything that comes in the way.

I do not agree with the idea of completely protecting the countryside and avoiding building houses there. The growing demand for housing makes it necessary to use rural areas for development. Firstly, there is limited space available in cities, and they are already overcrowded. This has led to a shortage of housing, higher costs, and poor living conditions. Building houses in the countryside can solve this problem. For example, in my hometown, Chittoor, expanding into nearby rural areas has not only provided more homes but also improved roads and services for the local people. Secondly, building in the countryside can be done in a way that protects nature. By using eco-friendly designs, planting trees, and leaving green spaces in housing projects, we can reduce the impact on the environment. Development doesn’t have to destroy the countryside; it can coexist with it. Additionally, expanding housing into rural areas creates jobs and improves facilities like schools, hospitals, and transportation. This benefits the local economy and helps rural communities grow. Some people worry about harming the environment, but with proper planning, we can avoid sensitive areas like forests and wetlands. We can focus on using land that is less important for wildlife or farming. In conclusion, while protecting the countryside is important, housing is a basic need. Building houses in rural areas, when done thoughtfully, can solve housing problems and bring progress without harming the environment too much.