In recent years, major cities across India have found themselves grappling with a growing vulnerability to flood conditions, signaling a pressing concern for urban planners and policymakers. Traditionally spared from the extensive flooding that often plagued rural areas, these urban centers, once considered safe havens, are now increasingly susceptible to the devastating impacts of inundation. The causes of this vulnerability are multifaceted, encompassing both natural and anthropogenic factors. Climatic shifts, characterized by erratic rainfall patterns and extreme weather events, have exacerbated the frequency and intensity of floods. Additionally, rapid and unplanned urbanization has led to the haphazard expansion of cities, often encroaching upon water bodies and disrupting natural drainage systems. Inadequate infrastructure, including outdated stormwater drainage systems and poor waste management practices, further compounds the problem. The consequences of this vulnerability are far-reaching, affecting millions of residents, disrupting economic activities, and placing immense pressure on emergency response mechanisms. As India continues its march towards urbanization, addressing these challenges becomes imperative to ensure the resilience of its major cities in the face of increasingly unpredictable climatic conditions.
Tag: Urbanisation, their problems, and their remedies.
Decoding the Question:
- In Introduction, try to show the grim situation of the increase in the number of events of floods in major cities.
- In Body, examine the reasons like man made or anthropological reasons, natural, poor planning and designing of cities. Try to substantiate by giving examples.
- Try to conclude with solutions like predictive precipitation modelling, water sensitive urban design and planning techniques, etc.
Answer:
Urban Flooding is accumulation of water in an area either by direct rainfall or through spill of huge amounts of water from water bodies beyond normal limits. It leads to temporary relocation of people, damage to civic amenities, deterioration of water quality and risk of epidemics. Over the past several years there is an increasing trend of urban flood disasters in India whereby major cities in India have been severely affected.
Reasons that Major Cities of India are Becoming Vulnerable to Flood Conditions:
- Urbanisation and Encroachment: Rapid urbanisation has led to the expansion of cities and encroachment on natural water bodies and floodplains. According to a study by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, India’s urban areas increased by 24.5% from 2011 to 2022, leading to the loss of natural water absorption areas.
Example: In Mumbai, the rapid urbanisation and population growth have led to the expansion of the city and encroachment on natural water bodies like wetlands and marshes.
- Inadequate Drainage Systems: Many cities in India have inadequate drainage systems to handle heavy rainfall. The Central Water Commission reported that 73% of India’s urban areas faced waterlogging and drainage-related issues in 2022.
Example: Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu, faced severe flooding in 2015 due to inadequate drainage systems.
- Deforestation and Loss of Natural Water Absorption Areas: Deforestation and loss of green spaces reduce the natural capacity of the land to absorb rainwater. India lost 1.8 million hectares of tree cover between 2010 and 2022, as per data from Global Forest Watch.
Example: Bengaluru, also known as the Garden City of India, has experienced significant deforestation and loss of green spaces over the years due to urbanisation and development.
- Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events: Climate change has led to more frequent and intense rainfall events, exacerbating flood risks. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reported that extreme rainfall events are projected to increase in frequency and intensity in India due to climate change.
Example: In 2019, the state of Kerala witnessed devastating floods that were triggered by unusually heavy rainfall during the monsoon season.
- Poor Urban Planning and Land Use Management: Inadequate urban planning and haphazard land use management can lead to constructions in flood-prone areas. A study by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) found that 66% of Indian cities have areas vulnerable to flooding due to poor planning.
Example: The city of Gurugram, in the National Capital Region (NCR), has faced recurring flooding issues due to poor urban planning and unchecked construction in low-lying areas and floodplains.
Way forward: Moving forward, India can take several measures to effectively manage its land and water resources and mitigate the impacts of floods. Here are some specific ways forward:
- Integrated Urban Planning and Flood Management: Implement integrated urban planning that considers flood risk assessments and incorporates sustainable infrastructure. The Smart Cities Mission in India aims to develop 100 smart cities that focus on sustainable urban development, including flood management. For example, the city of Surat in Gujarat has undertaken flood control projects and improved drainage systems to minimise flood risks.
- Watershed Management: Adopt integrated watershed management practices to conserve water resources and reduce soil erosion. The Watershed Development Program in India focuses on community-based watershed management. An example is the Kumbharwadi watershed in Maharashtra, where rainwater harvesting and soil conservation measures have improved water availability and reduced flooding.
- Rainwater Harvesting: Promote rainwater harvesting systems to capture and store rainwater for various uses. The state of Tamil Nadu in India has successfully implemented rainwater harvesting programs. Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu, has mandated rainwater harvesting for all buildings to address water scarcity and flood concerns.
- Green Infrastructure and Reforestation: Encourage green infrastructure initiatives and afforestation to enhance natural water absorption and reduce surface runoff. The Miyawaki forest technique, inspired by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, has been used in Indian cities like Bengaluru and Delhi to create dense, native forests that can mitigate flooding and improve air quality.
- Flood Early Warning Systems: Establish and strengthen flood early warning systems to provide timely alerts to vulnerable communities. The Assam State Disaster Management Authority has set up flood early warning systems in flood-prone districts to ensure early evacuation and minimise loss of life during floods.
In a changing climate, the proposed storm water drainage infrastructure has to be built considering the new ‘normal’. Tools such as predictive precipitation modelling can help do that and are also able to link it with the adaptive capacity of urban land use. Focus has to be on increasing the resilience of communities and adaptive capacity of our infrastructure.
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