Surbhi PathakCSE 2024 · 218 wordsTheir whole copy
Opening · a figure
The recent floods in urban cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Gurgaon have caused massive damage to life & livelihood.
With urban population set to rise from 30% (Census 2011) to 50% by 2030, human encroachment becomes a challenge.
Impact on water bodies:
Body · points
Over construction and concretisation leads to blockage of natural flow of water & nallas. eg. Yamuna regularly floods in Delhi roads.
Stormwater drains become clogged due to plastics, less groundwater seepage.
Lakes have been dried in Bangalore for creating high rise apartments. eg. Majestic Bus stand was Mudikere lake earlier.
Pavements outside office buildings create an obstruction to natural flow in downstream → leading to flooding of Epsilon apartments in Gurugram.
Expansion of land around wetlands and reservoirs → pollution, drainage problem, algal bloom. e.g. Bellandur lake caught fire from Industrial waste.
Urban heat island effect where over construction lead to less groundwater recharge e.g. 400-500m low level of groundwater in Pune.
Ways to deal
Model building byelaws → mandatory Rainwater harvesting → less construction.
Effective & stringent methods on encroachment by builders → due process of construction of apartments.
Construction away from flood plain zone.
Close · a framework
Urban areas are engine of economic growth. They need to be sustainable & environmental friendly for SDG 11 (responsible production & consumption).
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