More and more people are moving from rural areas to live in cities. What problems can this cause? How can these problems be solved? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

In recent decades, rural-to-urban migration has accelerated worldwide, creating several serious challenges for

cities

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. The most pressing problems are overcrowding, infrastructure strain and environmental deterioration, but these issues can be mitigated through targeted government policies. The rapid influx of people into

cities

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often leads to severe housing shortages and skyrocketing property prices, forcing many newcomers into slums or overcrowded apartments. At the same time, existing transport, water, sanitation and healthcare systems become overwhelmed, resulting in longer commuting times, traffic congestion and frequent service breakdowns. Another major concern is environmental degradation

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more residents mean higher energy consumption, increased waste production and greater air pollution, especially in developing countries where industrial zones and transport hubs are located near residential areas.

For example

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,

cities

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like Dhaka, Lagos and Manila regularly rank among the world’s most polluted urban centres partly because of uncontrolled rural migration.

Nevertheless

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, these problems are not inevitable and can be addressed through several practical measures.

First,

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governments should invest heavily in rural development — improving agricultural productivity, building better schools and hospitals, and creating off-farm jobs — so that people have stronger reasons to stay in the countryside. China’s rural

revitalization

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revitalisation

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strategy since 2017 is one example of

this

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approach.

Second,

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cities

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need better urban planning: constructing affordable housing projects, expanding public transport networks (metro, bus rapid transit), and enforcing stricter environmental regulations on factories and vehicles.

Finally

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,

decentralization

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decentralisation

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policies that encourage businesses and government offices to move to smaller

cities

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or satellite towns can relieve pressure on the largest metropolitan areas. In conclusion,

while

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mass migration to

cities

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creates significant housing, infrastructure and pollution problems, a combination of rural investment, improved city planning and regional development can effectively reduce these negative impacts.