Maharashtra is one of the most industrialised and urbanised states of India. The State has an impressive annual growth rate of seven percent over the past three years compared to 3.4 per cent during 2000-01. The target of 8 percent annual growth rate has been set in the 10th plan. All major towns of Maharashtra are experiencing an unprecedented population growth and thereby exerting a tremendous pressure on the urban infrastructure and civic amenities. About 42 per cent of the state’s population is living in urban areas though the levels of urbanisation are uneven across regions and districts within the state. Both inter-state and intra-state migrations are responsible for enormous growth of urban population.

URL: http://mpcb.mah.nic.in/images/pdf/SoER06.pdf