Overpopulation of urban areas has led to numerous problems. Identify one or two serious ones and suggest ways that governments and individuals can tackle these problems? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own experience or knowledge. Write at least 250 words.

Overpopulation

of urban areas is one of the most pressing issues that we are facing today, which has led to severe problems, environmentally and economically. The effects of

overpopulation

are accelerating alarmingly and

thus

, it has become crucial to identify these problems and determine ways to tackle them.

Firstly

,

overpopulation

leads to overcrowding and

thus

, demand exceeds supply. As human

population

keeps on rising, exhaustible natural resources like arable land, fossil fuels etc. Continue to drop sharply.

This

results in the depletion of natural resources,

for example

, the reckless cutting of trees to facilitate the housing needs of a large

population

. It

also

becomes difficult to cater to the ever-growing requirements of an overpopulated nation and

thus

, one has to compromise on the quality of life in terms of infrastructure, health and hygiene facilities, education and employment opportunities. It has become necessary to stabilize the rampant

population

growth. It is high time the government and individuals took responsibility to control the rate of

population

. In order to reduce its adverse impacts, government must implement measures

such

as spreading awareness among people and introducing suitable policies to curb the growth rate of

population

.

For example

, introduction of family planning programs and easy access to safe and effective contraceptive options. As fertility depends on the age of marriage, minimum age of marriage should be fixed and firmly implemented by law. Individuals too must take responsibility to educate themselves and those around them about the adverse effects of

overpopulation

. They must

also

make effective use of birth control methods and co-operate with the government to control

overpopulation

. The need of the hour is to focus on changing the mindset of people because the threat presented by the problem of

overpopulation

to the economic progress and our environment is inevitable.