GS1/GS3 Paper
Syllabus: Geography/ Disaster Management
Source: TH
Context: A recent study led by the World Bank highlights the rapid and continuous expansion of cities into flood-prone areas.
What does the World Bank Study show?
The study shows that urban areas in India are expanding into flood-prone zones at an alarming rate, doubling since 1985. This poses a significant risk due to increased instances of flooding, leading to life and livelihood losses.
Examples:
- Libya, which suffered from devastating flooding in September 2023, had an 83% increase in settlement extent in the worst flood zones.
- Pakistan, experiencing catastrophic flooding both in 2022 and 2023, witnessed an 89% increase in settlements in prone areas.
Middle-income countries, including India, have more urban settlements in flood-prone areas. The study underscores the urgency of considering flood-related risks in urban planning and making low-income housing more flood-resilient while implementing improved storm-water management.
Factors Behind Increasing Human Settlements in Flood Zones:
| Factors | Explanation |
| Rural to Urban Migration | Urbanization near waterways increases as countries grow economically, leading to settlements in flood-prone areas. |
| Example: Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) grew from a fishing village to a city of over seven million people in a short period | |
| Economic Factor | Low-income populations may be forced to live in flood-prone zones due to housing affordability constraints. |
| Lack of Regulatory Enforcement | Ineffective land-use planning and zoning regulations can result in settlements in flood-prone areas without safeguards. |
| Cultural and Historical Ties | Deep cultural or historical connections to flood-prone regions can influence decisions to remain or settle in these areas. |
| Tourism and Recreation | Coastal and riverfront areas, despite flood vulnerability, attract tourists and recreation enthusiasts, leading to settlement. |
What needs to be done:
| Strategies | Explanation |
| Strict Land Use Policies | Enforce regulations that prohibit or restrict new construction in high-risk flood zones, designating them as ‘no-build’ areas. |
| Infrastructure Investment | Invest in resilient infrastructure, including flood defences, early warning systems, and floodplain mapping. Improve drainage systems in existing settlements. |
| Adopt innovative solutions such as the ‘Sponge Cities’ concept
|
A “sponge city” is an urban initiative that employs nature-based solutions like permeable surfaces, canals, ponds, and wetland restoration to enhance water absorption, drainage, and flood resilience. |
| Government Support and Relocation Assistance | Provide financial incentives for residents to relocate from flood-prone areas and strengthen emergency response and preparedness measures. |
| Public Awareness and Education | Launch public awareness campaigns to educate citizens about the risks of living in flood-prone areas and promote community-based education programs on flood preparedness. |
Notable initiatives:
- Stormwater disposal system: The Brihanmumbai Storm Water Disposal System or BRIMSTOWAD, the project to overhaul Mumbai city’s old stormwater drainage system was started after the 2005 deluge.
- Water-sensitive urban design (WSUD in Australia):regards urban stormwater runoff, and wastewater as a resource rather than a nuisance or liability.
- Bioswales or ‘Rain Garden’ (New York):are landscape features that collect polluted stormwater runoff, soak it into the ground, and filter out pollution.
Conclusion:
Therefore, there is a need to include public open spaces within the urban fabric in the form of storm management infrastructure, which could help our cities transform into water-sensitive cities.
Insta Links
Mains Link
The frequency of urban floods due to high-intensity rainfall is increasing over the years. Discussing the reasons for urban floods, highlight the mechanisms for preparedness to reduce the risk during such events. ( UPSC 2016)
Major cities of India are becoming vulnerable to flood conditions. Discuss. (UPSC 2016)
Account for the huge flooding of a million cities in India including the smart ones like Hyderabad and Pune. Suggest lasting remedial measures. (UPSC 2020)
