Unrestrained rain. Then uncontrollable floods that destroy cities. Whether the city is big or small, everyone drowns. Delhi, Mumbai, Vadodara or Patna. All are facing the same disaster. Either the flood from the sea drowns them. Or the overflowing of the river. This is natural. But the water management system of the city also drowns them…know how?
Be it the two capitals of the country, whether it is the real Delhi or the moneyed Mumbai, Porbandar of Gujarat or Patna of Bihar, the condition of the entire country is the same. Drainage system, rainwater management, flood risk management… everything is a mess. Yes, the government does alert three types of personnel before a flood situation arises. These are- Police, NDRF/SDRF or Army, so that they can save people and pets from the submerged areas.
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Deploy the emergency force but at least urban development should be good. Mumbai’s heartline i.e. local train stops working when there is waterlogging. BEST buses also face difficulty in running. Pictures of vehicles stuck in water are seen at many places. The same is the condition of Delhi. The national capital starts murmuring with a little rain. Just like any living creature does when it drowns in water.
First let us know the problems of our cities. Then read about the arrangements made in cities like London, which do not cause waterlogging and waterlogging.
The problem of cities like Porbandar, Delhi, Mumbai and Patna…
Inadequate infrastructure… Most of the cities in India have ancient and inadequate drainage systems. These systems cannot handle heavy rainfall. Therefore, they come on the verge of submergence in half an hour of rain. Severe flooding situation arises. Waterlogging occurs 3-4 times every rain. The reason is that the sewerage systems are not able to work. Nor are they able to stop the flow of so much water. Look at the floods in Delhi last year. The same happened this year as well. A few days ago, there was a similar situation in Mumbai. Now the same is the condition of the cities of Gujarat.
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Lack of rainwater harvesting… Rainwater harvesting has started in the cities of the country. But it is not on a large scale. Nor has it been linked with urban planning. Whereas in London, New York or Sweden, this system has been in place from the beginning. If this is implemented, then the cities can conserve the right amount of water. Many areas in Rajasthan are still saved from floods because rainwater harvesting is included in the rules there. People follow it.
Urbanization and climate change… Due to rapid urbanization, the water-absorbing areas have decreased. Wetlands and green spaces are decreasing. Due to climate change, rains occur more frequently and at times. This puts a lot of pressure on the current drainage system.
Also read: Mumbai-Kolkata will submerge by 2050, 3.5 crore people at risk, Global Report on Environment
Limited government assistance… Like the governments of other countries, there is a lack of government policies in India. The government should plan a massive awareness campaign and incentives for rainwater harvesting. So that people who want to do such things get encouraged. Installing these systems in buildings will make water management easier in the city.
Lack of awareness among people… People here are not aware. They will throw plastic waste in the drainage. Due to which the drainage system gets blocked. Such waste on a large scale blocks the place from where the dirt goes into the rivers or the sea. Due to this, the flow stops during the rains. Water starts accumulating. When waves come from the sea, they do not go back.
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What are the best things about other big cities in the world…
Rain water harvesting… In most of the big cities of western countries, full attention has been given to rainwater harvesting. This technology has been incorporated in the buildings. Rainwater is stored and reused. Take the Museum of London for example. It has a roof of 850 square meters. Here 25 thousand liters of water is harvested in the rain. That is, it is stored. Which is used for toilet flushing and irrigation.
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Sustainable Urban Drainage Syst… Stormwater management technology is implemented in a better way. This reduces the load on the sewerage system. With stormwater management, rainwater can be drained out at the right time. Or it can be collected at one place and reused. This way, rainwater does not go unnecessarily into the sewerage system. Rather, it flows into clean water sources without getting mixed in the sewer.
Laws and incentives… Rainwater harvesting is being promoted more. Strict rules are being made for it. This has to be implemented in every new building.
Source (PTI) (NDTV) (HINDUSTANTIMES)