URBAN FLOODING AND LANDSLIDES IN SEVERAL CITIES

Key Highlights:

• Urban flooding and landslides are primarily a State subject, with management falling under State Governments and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
• The Central Government, through the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA), supplements State efforts with financial, technical support, and advisories.
• MoHUA has published several guidelines, including URDPFI Guidelines, 2014, and a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Urban Flooding.
• Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), launched in 2015, includes components for storm water drainage and green spaces.
• Under AMRUT, 838 storm water drainage projects worth ₹3022.39 crore and 2,522 green space projects developing 5,400 acres were undertaken.
• AMRUT 2.0 has approved 2,951 water body rejuvenation projects worth ₹6,003.34 crore and 1,649 green space projects worth ₹1,087.12 crore.

Detailed Insights:

• Increased high-intensity rainfall, unplanned growth, encroachment of natural water bodies, and inadequate drainage systems are key causes of urban floods.
• Pre-monsoon activities like cleaning and desilting of drains are responsibilities of ULBs, with no central data maintained on related funds.
• MoHUA also issued River Centric Urban Planning Guidelines (2021) and a Manual on Storm Water Drainage System to improve urban flood management.
• AMRUT aimed to reduce flooding by constructing and improving drains and creating green spaces and parks.
• Both AMRUT and AMRUT 2.0 include sewerage and septage management projects, which also aid in the evacuation of storm water.
• Under AMRUT, 888 sewerage/septage management projects created approximately 22,539 km of sewer network.
• AMRUT 2.0 has taken up 605 sewerage and septage management projects covering 40,021 km of sewer network.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Urban Local Bodies (ULBs): Local self-governing bodies responsible for civic administration and infrastructure in urban areas.
• Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT): A national mission launched in 2015 to improve urban infrastructure, including water supply, sewerage, storm water drainage, and green spaces.
• Storm Water Drainage: A system designed to collect and convey excess rainwater from urban areas to prevent flooding.