| Paper | GS Paper 1 |
| Word Limit | 250 words |
| Syllabus Topic | Urbanisation – problems and remedies |
Model Answer
Million-plus cities like Mumbai (2005), Chennai (2015) and Hyderabad (2020), and even Pune, have faced severe floods. On 26 July 2005, Santacruz in Mumbai recorded about 944 mm of rain. Even “smart” cities flood because heavy rain meets poor planning.
Causes
- Climate change: Short, intense rainfall events are becoming more frequent.
- Flash floods: Heavy rain over small urban catchments floods low-lying areas within hours.
- Encroachment: Hyderabad lost many lakes to construction; in Pune, buildings came up over nallas and stream beds.
- Impervious surfaces: Concrete stops water from soaking in, so run-off rises.
- Old, choked drains: Designed for low rainfall and blocked by plastic and silt.
- Floodplain construction: Housing in low-lying areas blocks natural flow.
- Weak coordination: Civic bodies and dam authorities work in silos.
- Narrow “smart” focus: Smart City projects stressed roads and technology over drainage.
Lasting Remedial Measures
- Planning: Map floodplains and natural drains; ban construction on them.
- Revive water bodies: Restore lakes, wetlands and stream channels – blue-green infrastructure.
- Sponge city approach: Permeable pavements, rain gardens and rooftop rainwater harvesting.
- Drainage upgrade: Design for higher rainfall; de-silt before the monsoon. Use AMRUT’s storm-water drainage component.
- Early warning: Ward-level flood maps and rain alerts.
- Governance: Follow the NDMA Guidelines on Urban Flooding (2010); one lead agency per city.
- Community action: Keep plastic out of drains.
Conclusion
Urban floods are largely a planning failure. Making room for water in city design will make cities truly smart and climate-resilient, in line with SDG 11.
Related PYQs
- Major cities of India are becoming more vulnerable to flood conditions. Discuss. (2016)
- Flooding in urban areas is an emerging climate-induced disaster. Discuss the causes of this disaster. Mention the features of two such major floods in the last two decades in India. Describe the policies and frameworks in India that aim at tackling such floods. (2024)
- What are the environmental implications of the reclamation of the water bodies into urban land use? Explain with examples. (2021)
See all: Society Mains (GS I) Previous Year Questions | Geography Mains (GS I) Previous Year Questions
Get Your Answer Evaluated
Write this answer in 11 minutes and get it evaluated for free:
- Upload on our website: Free UPSC Mains Answer Evaluation
- Join our free daily answer-writing group on Telegram: t.me/freemainsanswerwriting
Want visual, easy-to-revise notes? Check our Super Simplified books. Helpline: 7827779142