Environment & Urbanization

World leading environmental and urban studies journal

Why Urban India Floods: Indian cities grow at the cost of their wetlands

Author(s): 
Sushmita Sengupta

Publisher: 
Centre for Science and Environment

Pages: 
87

Year: 
2016

A publication of Down to Earth magazine, Why Urban India Floods reviews the state of urban flooding across India and its relation to urbanization and drainage, which is often neglected. Sengupta contends that the occurrence of urban floods in India is increasing, and she links this to inadequate attention and value given to natural water bodies, in particular wetlands. She argues that many Indian water bodies have been built over through the process of urbanization largely because they “are rarely recorded under municipal law” and “planners only see land, not water” (page 5). A rethinking of urban planning is needed, Sengupta believes. Therefore she urges for all cities in India to carefully survey their water bodies and incorporate them into legal frameworks for protection.  

This book highlights the value of water bodies for flood protection of cities and furthermore for the sustainability of India’s urbanization. It also identifies current threats to them, such as pollution, encroachment, illegal mining activities and unplanned tourism activities. Why Urban India Floods claims that the absence of an administrative framework and government apathy about water bodies is the biggest challenge yet. Following this introduction, Sengupta uses the main part of the book to present 11 case studies from Indian states. These cases present maps and contemporary data on the number of water bodies, occurrence of floods, rates of urbanization, and cities with the most water bodies in particular states. They also portray how the aforementioned threats are leading to the loss and damage of water bodies and negative implications for cities. The case explorations go on to illustrate efforts to save these water bodies, in order to replenish groundwater and absorb floodwater, and the associated challenges.

Relevant for urban planners, with an interest in developing countries and India in particular, this book provides detailed insight into the existing challenges for India’s cities in the realm of urban flooding. It also presents some of the ways forward for addressing these and emphasizes the need to tailor flood management strategies for each city. As the publication suggests, this book is indeed down to earth with no romantic notions, but rather grounded in context-specific cases that illustrate the complexity and fragmented nature of flood management in cities. In conclusion, Sengupta asserts that all Indian states need to acknowledge the increasing risk of urban floods and “take steps to revive their natural drainage systems” (page 87).

 

Preview available from:

http://cdn.downtoearth.org.in/uploads/0.56859500_1457688308_Preview.pdf

 

Book note prepared by Hannah Keren Lee

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