Intro (Micro Notes Format):
Major Indian cities like Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Delhi are increasingly facing urban floods, driven by a mix of natural and anthropogenic factors, threatening infrastructure, life, and economy.
Causes of Urban Flood Vulnerability:
- Unplanned urbanisation: Encroachment on lakes, wetlands, and floodplains.
- Poor drainage systems: Outdated or clogged stormwater drains, especially in old city areas.
- Loss of permeable surfaces: Excessive concretisation, reducing groundwater recharge.
- Heavy rainfall & climate change: Extreme rainfall events more frequent due to global warming (e.g., Chennai 2015, Mumbai 2005, Bengaluru 2022).
- Inadequate infrastructure: Under-capacity sewers, lack of rainwater harvesting.
- Urban heat island effect: Intensifies convective rainfall.
Impacts:
- Damage to infrastructure: Roads, railways, housing affected.
- Public health crisis: Waterborne diseases surge post-floods.
- Economic losses: Disruption to business, transport, and power.
- Displacement and deaths: Especially in low-lying slums.
Mitigation Strategies:
- Integrated Urban Flood Management (IUFM).
- Preservation of water bodies and wetlands.
- Upgrading drainage systems with GIS mapping.
- Implementing rainwater harvesting & permeable pavements.
- Smart city planning with disaster-resilience features.
Conclusion:
Urban floods in Indian cities reflect ecological neglect and planning failures. Proactive and sustainable urban management is crucial to reduce their frequency and impact.
