Spatial Analysis of Access to Basic Services in Urban West Bengal: Disparities and Determinants

This paper, using data from Census 2011, examines the availability of treated drinking water, latrine facility, drainage facility and electricity between villages, census towns (CTs) and statutory towns (STs) in West Bengal, India. Urban areas of socio-economically developed administrative divisions experienced higher household service coverage. Availability of drinking water and latrine facilities is distinctly better in STs over CTs and CTs over villages. Other services like latrine with sewerage facilities and closed drainage facilities recorded insignificant differences in household coverage between cities and villages. Results of multi-variable regression models reveal that type of economic activities and social characteristics of the urban areas; nature of basic services and their institutional arrangements significantly influence the service provision. So, the paper argues for stepping up investment, institutionalization of an integrated planning paradigm and strengthening urban governments to ensure equitable distribution of basic services.