Model Answer

Urban flooding occurs when rainfall exceeds the drainage, infiltration and storage capacity of built-up areas. Recent flooding in Delhi-NCR and Gurugram demonstrates how climatic extremes interact with unplanned urbanisation to transform heavy rainfall into disasters.

Why Indian cities are increasingly flood-prone

1. Extreme rainfall overwhelms drainage designed for historical rainfall patterns. e.g: Intense monsoon spells in Delhi-NCR.
2. Concretisation reduces infiltration and increases surface runoff. e.g: Rapid construction in Gurugram.
3. Encroachment of natural drains obstructs water flows. e.g: Construction along urban drainage channels.
4. Wetland loss removes natural flood-storage capacity. e.g: Degradation of Delhi-NCR wetlands.
5. Inadequate storm-water drainage causes prolonged waterlogging.
6. Solid waste blocks drains and aggravates local flooding. e.g: Plastic waste in urban drains.

Why urban flooding is also a governance failure

1. Multiple agencies fragment responsibility for drainage, roads and land use.
2. Master plans often inadequately integrate watershed and flood-risk considerations.
3. Construction in low-lying areas increases exposure to flooding.
4. Weak enforcement allows encroachment on floodplains and water bodies.
5. Disaster management remains response-oriented rather than prevention-focused.

Building climate-resilient cities

1. Sponge-city principles can retain and absorb stormwater. e.g: Permeable surfaces and rain gardens.
2. Blue-green infrastructure restores natural drainage. e.g: Wetlands, lakes and urban forests.
3. Updated rainfall projections should guide drainage design.
4. GIS-based flood-risk mapping can regulate vulnerable development.

Way Forward

1. Prepare city-level Urban Flood Risk Management Plans under NDMA guidelines.
2. Restore wetlands, floodplains and natural drainage networks.
3. Empower ULBs with unified planning, finances and technical capacity.

Extreme rainfall need not become an urban disaster. Integrating climate science with blue-green infrastructure and accountable urban governance can shift Indian cities from flood response towards resilience.