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Urban Heat & Inequality Crisis: WHO Green Space Norm (9 sq.m./capita) vs. Chennai (0.81), Pune (1.4), Delhi (2.9)

EnvironmentSocial IssuesPolityHIGH
Target:UPSC GS-IIIMPSCTeachingSSC GAPrelims HighMains HighStatic GK Link
06 Jun 2026
~2 min
Source: The Hindu
Key Data:WHO Green Space Norm: 9 sq.m./capitaChennai: 0.81 sq.m./capitaPune: 1.4 sq.m./capitaBengaluru: 2.25 sq.m./capitaDelhi: 2.9 sq.m./capitaMumbai: 1.24 sq.m./capita
Bodies:WHOUN-HabitatRajya SabhaWRI India
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What This Article Covers

1.WHO prescribes 9 sq.m. green space per capita, but major Indian cities lag far behind: Chennai (0.81 sq.m.), Pune (1.4), Bengaluru (2.25), Delhi (2.9), Mumbai (1.24).

2.A 'Right to Public Space Bill' was introduced in Rajya Sabha in December 2023, seeking to establish free, accessible public spaces as a fundamental right.

3.Studies and reports highlight the social inequality: cooling infrastructure (shade, parks) is concentrated in affluent enclaves, while gig workers, domestic workers, and those in public have 'no place to rest'.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · High

Indian cities are failing to provide equitable access to green spaces and shade, a critical vulnerability amid rising urban heatwaves. This analysis exposes how urban design, privatization, and regulations like the Karnataka Parks Act are creating unequal access to public cooling infrastructure, disproportionately affecting gig workers, domestic workers, and the urban poor.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

WHO Green Space Norm9 sq.m. per capita
Chennai Green Space0.81 sq.m. per capita
Right to Public Space BillIntroduced in Rajya Sabha (Dec 8, 2023)
Karnataka Parks Act1985

1-Minute Revision

  • ›WHO Green Space Norm: 9 sq.m. per capita
  • ›Chennai Green Space: 0.81 sq.m. per capita
  • ›Target this Data: WHO Green Space Norm is 9 sq.m. per capita.
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: UN-Habitat (programme for sustainable urban development).
  • ›Target this Legal Point: The Karnataka Parks, Play-fields and Open Spaces (Preservation and Regulation) Act, 1985.

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Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

Q1Static LinkageEasy

The 'Right to Public Space Bill' mentioned in the article was introduced in which house of the Indian Parliament?

Q2Statement-basedMedium

Consider the following statements regarding green spaces in Indian cities as per the article:

1. The World Health Organization (WHO) prescribes a minimum of 9 square meters of green space per capita in urban areas.

2. Chennai has the lowest green space per capita among the Indian cities mentioned in the article.

3. UN-Habitat recommends that 50% of a city's land should be reserved as public open space.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricEasy

According to the article, what is the approximate green space available per capita in Bengaluru?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What is the primary social issue highlighted by the book 'Why Loiter?' as referenced in the article?

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