Dichotomy Of Urban India: Challenges Or Opportunity
Tanveen Kaur, National Law University, Jodhpur
Introduction
Urban expansion has altered the flood risk profile for many locations, and more than two-thirds of the urban population is at risk. India has many cities along the coast and in the flood plains of major rivers. As urbanization increases impermeability, areas with previously low flood risk are experiencing flooding. For example, cities in the upper parts of watersheds, such as Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Indore. Pluvial flooding risk is growing more rapidly. Climate change and urbanization patterns are the main drivers of stormwater related or pluvial flooding risks, with a forecasted increase in risk of 3.6 to 7 times by 2070.The increasingly uncertain and intense rainfall associated with climate change and more-erratic monsoons together with increases in areas of impervious surfaces associated with urban expansion is creating frequent flooding, resulting in damage and service disruptions.
Storm surges and rising sea levels will continue to threaten many low-lying urban areas close to India’s coasts. Storm surges and tropical cyclone events can cause an exceptional increase in sea level and trigger flooding along the coast. It is also projected that sea level rise due to climate change will affect coastal cities. The risk of swollen rivers overflowing their banks threatens many urban settlements that have expanded into low-lying areas. Riverine flooding impacts an average of 30 million people annually, especially in the regions surrounding Mumbai and Kolkata. Some cities are considerably more exposed to flooding; Surat, for example, faces a combination of riverine, pluvial, and coastal flooding.
Challenges for more-efficient urban services and better quality of urban life
Climate change and urban settlement growth pat terns are increasing disaster risk in Indian cities. The key factors contributing to urban disaster risk— hazard, vulnerability and exposure—are compounded by climate change and how the urbanization is taking place in India.
