Urban Flooding Woes

In this article, Ayuj Purohit says the efficiency of the current water systems has seen a downward slope which can be related to the rapid urbanization that has undermined the sustainability of the environment. The mismanagement of water-related infrastructure and the problems faced because of it have led to a peculiar predicament of flooding in urban areas, that is, 'urban flooding' where the roads and surrounding areas get inundated with water.

- Ayuj Purohit

As City Streets Turn into Rivers

As early as the civilizations of Harappa and Indus Valley, societies have been cognizant of drainage systems for both sanitation and flood-prevention reasons. Leading water to the outskirts of the cities through an impeccable feat of engineering, the ancient cities of Lothal and Mohenjodaro thrived and demonstrated in their city planning world’s earliest drainage systems including underground sewage systems and the magnificent great baths—a fine example of proper water supply, rainwater harvesting, and water drainage systems.

Compared to these, the efficiency of the current water systems has seen a downward slope which can be related to the rapid urbanization that has undermined the sustainability of the environment. The mismanagement of water-related infrastructure and the problems faced because of it have led to a peculiar predicament of flooding in urban areas, that is, ‘urban flooding’ where the roads and surrounding areas get inundated with water.

Urban flooding can be connected to two major reasons: poor infrastructure and maintenance, coupled with rapid climate change. This year’s flooding made Delhi the Venice of India as amid these heavy spells of rainfall, several parts of Delhi had been well submerged in water. Improper road construction greatly contributes to these floods as drains across the city are often constructed at heights higher than the ground level negating their purpose. To make it worse, newer roads are impervious to water. Mismanagement of plastic waste can also be seen as a cause of urban flooding, given how it chokes the drains in turn exacerbating the problem.