The critical analysis of the interrelationship between spatial structure and scenario of development is the focal theme of this volume. Attributes of the environment, man, his culture and society and their interaction shape the spatial structure which ultimately determine the pace of development. In this entire process, occurrence of natural resources is of little significance unless they are utilized locally for higher level of economic activities. Development of such activities depend, with other things, on the process of decision making. In our political system, decision-making process is controlled by the dominant persons. As such, resources exploitation increased phenomenally in consonance with the increasing production in other economic sectors with the objectives of maximization of revenue and personal gains without caring for even development and society. In fact, people are viewed separated from the resource endowment of the area. Under such situation, transportable resources are siphoned to dominant regions. In reality, those socio-economic conditions which favour ‘internal colonialism’ determine the super structure of development. Examination of the disparities in distribution of resources and development in undivided Madhya Pradesh certifies that inequality in development is caused more by the human behaviour and their socio-economic status and less by the availability of natural resources. To redress this disparity, development planning should be on territorial basis and the planning units should be based on local resources as well on functional complementarity. Unless transferential approach of resource exploitation is not changed to transformational one it is difficult to reduce the glaring disparity in development. Transformational approach is people oriented and nature oriented development concept, in which social justice, welfare, quality of life and environmental protection are kept at par with the economic growth.
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