Drowning in Our Progress? Tackling the Growing Menace of Urban Floods in India

Abstract

A recent key challenge called urban flooding has grasped Indian cities, collectively impacted by climate change and unsustainable infrastructural developments. Major cities throughout the country e.g., Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai, as well as smaller cities like Vadodara and Guwahati, are facing increased frequency and intensity of floods. Extreme rainfall events, urban sprawl, and inadequate infrastructure drive this. Further, this can solely be a consequence of heavy rainfall but, is intricately linked to man-made alterations like encroachment on water bodies, antiquated drainage systems, and a surge in population leading to higher waste production. The fast-paced urbanisation in the last few decades has resulted in the decline of natural water bodies that once soaked the excess downpours of monsoon seasons. Additionally, drainage systems in many cities were designed for lesser rainfall, and are incapable of coping with the increased intense rainfall in shorter spells. Accumulation of waste and siltation in the drainage systems have further multi-folded the urban inundation issues in India. Due to this the incurred economic losses and human fatalities in the country remain difficult to believe. Collective awakening of stakeholders for climate-resilient urban infrastructure, proper waste management, and upgrading drainage outdated systems can reduce the inflated risks of urban flooding in India.