The Central government has recognised urban floods as a national problem and has allocated a substantial amount of Rs 3,000 crore to address the issue in seven major cities across India. As part of these allocations, Mumbai and Pune, representing Maharashtra, have been granted Rs 100 crore and Rs 50 crore per year, respectively. With urban flooding increasingly disrupting the lives of residents in these cities, the Central government is taking a proactive approach by formulating short-term and long-term policies to tackle the problem.
Ganesh Sonune, the head of the disaster management department, highlighted the evolving nature of urban floods, stating, “Earlier, cities and state governments were managing floods. But in the last few years, all major cities face floods yearly, causing prolonged waterlogging. There are different reasons for flooding in each city. Instead of addressing urban flood management in isolation, the Central government is now considering it as a national problem.” In line with this approach, representatives from the seven cities were recently invited to New Delhi on September 13 to discuss urban flood management.
The increasing frequency of cyclonic activities and unpredictable weather patterns due to climate change have led to excessive rainfall within short periods, resulting in the inundation of cities. The rapid expansion of infrastructure and residential areas has further reduced the water retention capacity of the urban regions, leading to fast-rising flash floods during heavy rainfall events.
Recognising the severity of urban flooding, the 15th Finance Commission made specific recommendations in its report. It emphasised the need for an integrated approach that combines urban planning, ecological conservation, and disaster management. The state governments are urged to support various interventions involving collaboration among multiple urban agencies. To address the regular occurrence of flooding and the associated losses, the Finance Commission recommended targeted allocations for urban flood management in the seven cities with a metropolitan population exceeding five million. These cities include Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, and Pune.
The allocation of Rs 3,000 crore by the Centre demonstrates its commitment to addressing the challenges of urban flooding. This funding will enable the implementation of comprehensive measures to mitigate the impact of floods and enhance the resilience of these cities. By adopting a holistic and coordinated approach, the government aims to safeguard the lives and well-being of citizens while effectively sustainably managing urban floods.
