Economic Survey 2022: Darkness Galore Odisha In Country's First-Ever Luminous Map

Odisha's inequitable development story has been busted by the satellites. The large stretches of dark spots amid a handful of brighter spots put the true picture of the State's economic strides on the larger canvas of development.

The Economic Survey 2021-22 tabled by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Parliament on Monday has put the development picture of Odisha in its true perspective.

As per the Survey, "An important theme of this year’s Economic Survey is the use of new forms of data and information for tracking economic activity and development. Using another kind of data – geospatial data and cartographic techniques, the survey has tracked, compared to map the longer-term developments."

In order to track and measure longer-term developments, the survey said, "India’s night-time luminosity is compared between 2012 and 2021 in Figures 1A and 1B. Night-time luminosity provides an interesting representation of the expansion of electricity supply, the geographical distribution of population and economic activity, urban expansion as well as the growth of ribbon developments between urban hubs."

Odisha In Luminosity Map

A deeper glance at the luminous map of Odisha sheds light on the development story of the State. Dark patches outnumber brighter spots.

Even as Odisha has 103 towns, there are a total of 23 class 1 and 2 towns in the State and the luminosity map leaves an impression that highlights how development is seemingly concentrated in a fistful of patches.  (Note: The list of class 1 and 2 towns are given below.)

Town List

Now take a look at image 1A. The image portrays the ground reality of economic activity and development in the year 2012.

1 A - India And Odisha In 2012

The luminous map shows how fast-paced economic activities and development remain limited in around three districts - Khordha, Cuttack, Angul and to a little extent in and around Paradip in Jagatsinghpur, around Dhamra in Bhadrak, Berhampur-Gopalpur-Chatrapur in Ganjam and Rourkela Steel City in Sundargarh districts.

Cut To 2021 - Take a look at image 1 B (See the Main Image)

The nighttime luminosity reveals a little horizontal growth of development and economic activities, rather it shows concentration and vertical growth in the handful of districts that were a busy buzz in 2012.

The map shows pronounced economic activity and development in the districts and the peripheral areas in the districts like Khordha, Cuttack and Angul. The nighttime image puts the picture in all black and white.   

While in between 2012 and 2021, when north and central India seems lighted up by intense economic activities and the out-flowing development outcomes, in Odisha during a decade's time, the luminosity index doesn't look intense.

An intense rate of economic activities and development, however, has been framed in the 2012 nerve centre areas and districts like Khordha, Cuttack, Angul, Paradip (Jagatsinghpur), Dhamra (Bhadrak), Berhampur-Gopalpur-Chatrapur (Ganjam) and Rourkela Steel City (Sundargarh).

Here is the list of towns (see the above image) that are represented as dark spots - the underbelly of the State's economic progress - on the luminous map drawn in the Economic Survey 2021-22.

And as described by the Economic Survey, the urban expansion, as well as growth of 'Ribbon Developments' between urban hubs in Odisha, is not growing at the desired speed.

What Is Ribbon Development?

This is jargon in urban development. As per the jargon, when transportation and communication attain a scale of size, investors tend to build establishments like factories, entrepreneurs go for setting up startups, self-employed put up shops and people build houses.

As a consequence, the urban areas see horizontal expansion and bring more peripheral areas into the cycle of growth, development and employment. Though this is happening briskly in Odisha, it is limited only to a handful of 7 places or districts when the State has 30 districts.

The Key Takeaway

The bright show tells the black truth - Odisha needs a booster plan to rev up economic and business activities in all 30 districts so that in the next 10-years, the nighttime luminosity map can frame Odisha's progress and equitable development and growth picture.