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Volume 4, Issue 4, 2025

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This paper examined the impact of political economy on urban governance and planning in India through the lens of historical institutionalism. It analysed the economic reforms of 1991 and their implications on the evolving role of government across different levels, particularly in reshaping institutional responsibilities within the domain of urban development. The case studies of Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) and the National Urban Transport Policy (NUTP) provided insights into how governance reforms and policy frameworks evolved within an existing institutional structure. A comparative analysis of these case studies suggested that the adoption of urban governance reforms in India has been gradual and path dependent, rather than transformative. The paper concluded by highlighting key institutional shortcomings, including constrained decentralisation and limited fiscal capacity at the city level, and identified areas where further improvement is necessary.

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Urbanization in rapidly expanding municipalities in developing countries presents significant spatial and governance challenges. This study examines urban sprawl and related municipal planning issues in the Kaduwela Municipal Council (KMC) area of Sri Lanka, using land-use and land-cover (LULC) data for 2002, 2012, and 2024 and demographic data up to 2023. By integrating Geographic Information System (GIS)-based land-use analysis with regression modeling, the study investigates land-use transformation, population change, and selected factors associated with urban expansion. Landsat satellite imagery from 2002, 2012, and 2024 was used to classify major land-use and land-cover categories, including built-up areas, vegetation, agricultural land, water bodies, and bare land. The classified maps were used to construct an Urban Sprawl Index (USI) to assess the extent and pattern of urban sprawl over the study period. Regression analysis was then applied to examine the relationship between the USI and selected demographic, infrastructural, and socioeconomic variables, including population growth, population density, road density, vehicle density, employment rate, and sectoral population distribution. The results indicate substantial land-use transformation in KMC, with an expansion of built-up areas and a decline in agricultural land, vegetation, and water bodies. The regression results show that population growth rate was the only statistically significant predictor of the USI, while other variables showed weak or non-significant associations. These findings suggest that urban sprawl in KMC is shaped by both measurable demographic factors and other contextual factors, such as land-use regulation, environmental constraints, informal development, and municipal governance capacity. The study highlights the need for integrated land-use planning, improved GIS-based monitoring, stronger zoning enforcement, infrastructure coordination, and environmental protection to support more sustainable urban management in Kaduwela and similar peri-urban municipalities in Sri Lanka.

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Flooding is a recurrent problem in rapidly developing urban districts such as Lokogoma, Abuja, where inadequate drainage, poor land-use planning, and weak infrastructure maintenance increase flood vulnerability. This study assessed the causes, impacts, and effectiveness of existing flood mitigation measures in Lokogoma District, Abuja, Nigeria. A mixed-methods approach was adopted, involving field observation, questionnaire surveys, stakeholder interviews, secondary data review, and geographic information system (GIS)-assisted mapping. A total of 381 questionnaires were administered to residents in flood-prone residential areas, and the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, mainly frequencies and percentages. The findings show that 79% of respondents had been affected by flooding, while 53.3% reported that flooding occurs frequently. Poor drainage conditions were identified as the leading cause of flooding, accounting for 27.6% of responses, followed by building on waterways and improper planning, each accounting for 22.0%. The major impacts of flooding included disruption of daily activities, economic loss, loss of personal belongings, health issues, property damage, and displacement from homes. Existing mitigation measures included drainage systems, sandbags/barriers, building elevation, flood walls, community education, early warning systems, vegetative barriers, land-use planning, and flood insurance. However, respondents expressed mixed views about their effectiveness, with 44.9% rating the measures as effective or very effective and 39.4% rating them as ineffective or very ineffective. The study concludes that flooding in Lokogoma is driven by inadequate drainage capacity, poor maintenance, improper waste disposal, weak development control, and limited community participation. It recommends upgrading secondary and tertiary drainage systems, improving solid waste management, enforcing land-use and building regulations, conducting regular drainage maintenance, reviewing flood risk assessments, and strengthening public awareness and community participation. These measures can enhance flood resilience and support more sustainable urban development in Lokogoma District.

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Rapid urbanization in developing countries such as Indonesia has intensified environmental challenges, including waste accumulation, pollution, and limited infrastructure capacity. Smart city initiatives have therefore been promoted as a pathway toward sustainable urban management through technology, adaptive governance, and citizen participation. However, comparative analyses of how smart city strategies contribute to environmental sustainability remain limited. This study examines the contribution of smart city development to sustainable waste management in three major Indonesian cities: Jakarta, Surabaya, and Makassar. A descriptive qualitative method was employed using a comparative literature review based on academic publications and official government documents. The analysis integrated three conceptual frameworks: the smart city framework, integrated sustainable waste management (ISWM), and ecological modernization theory (EMT). The results show that each city adopted distinct strategies reflecting its local capacities and institutional contexts. Jakarta emphasizes technological modernization through refuse-derived fuel (RDF) processing and decentralized TPS3R facilities based on the reduce–reuse–recycle principle. Surabaya focuses on community participation through waste banks, composting centers, and the Benowo waste-to-energy plant. Makassar prioritizes digital innovation through the Makassarta Tidak Rantasa (MTR) reporting system, the Waste Bank Management Information System (SIMBA), and global positioning system (GPS)-based sanitation fleet management. Collectively, these approaches demonstrate that environmental sustainability in smart cities depends on the synergy among technology, policy effectiveness, and public participation. The findings indicate that there is no universal model for urban waste management; instead, effective outcomes arise from locally adapted strategies that balance technical, institutional, and social dimensions. This study provides practical insights for policymakers seeking to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 11 and SDG 12.
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