Overlooking Water In Urban Planning: A Recipe For Disaster

Yet, the December 2023 floods in Chennai, echoing the devastation of 2015, raise the important question of whether or not we're learning anything about prevention.

Why do urban disasters like flooding and waterlogging persist? Two key issues stand out: rampant construction and, more critically, the unchecked expansion of our cities.

But to plan effectively, we must start with water—understanding its flow, seasonal patterns, and regional hydrology. This must become the cornerstone of urban and regional planning. 

India’s rapid urbanisation is both a success story and a looming challenge. Cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai are expanding at unprecedented rates, but fragmented and reactive planning has led to severe consequences.

A recent BBMP survey showed that 80 per cent (159 out of 202) lakes in Bangalore have been encroached upon.

Chennai's wetlands have also been degraded by economic development, such as the construction of the MGR highway and the boom in the IT industry. The loss of wetlands has been a significant factor in the damage caused by floods in Chennai.  

Wetlands and waterways, once vital for flood management, have been built over, obstructing natural water flow. Mumbai, too, faces recurring monsoon floods, with century-old drainage systems overwhelmed as unchecked construction continues on vital wetlands.

First The Water, The Rest Will Flow

This piecemeal approach to urban growth, where cities respond to crises after they occur, rather than planning to prevent them, is a central flaw in India’s urban development.

Urban planners, environmentalists, and even economists have long advocated for a shift towards a more integrated, regional approach to planning—one that recognises the interconnectedness of cities with their surrounding areas and ecosystems. 

“We’re not just building cities; we’re shaping entire regions. If we fail to account for the larger ecosystem, we’re setting ourselves up for disaster,” says Anupam Srivastava, a Delhi-based urban planner.

His words underscore the need to move away from isolated, project-based urban planning toward a more holistic and sustainable regional development framework.

One of the most overlooked aspects of regional planning is water management. Cities have historically been built near rivers and lakes, yet modern urban development in India often ignores these vital water systems. Hydrology is seldom factored into city planning, resulting in issues like waterlogging and flash floods. 

In many cases, riverfronts and lakes are developed for aesthetic or commercial purposes without adequate thought to how they interact with the region’s water flow. This results in blockages to natural water routes, further exacerbating flooding problems.

Srivastava points out, “The challenge isn’t just about building better infrastructure; it’s about understanding and respecting the natural systems we’re building on.”

Data from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) reveals that nearly 20 per cent of urban regions in India are vulnerable to extreme climate events, and this vulnerability is compounded by poor planning.

According to the Global Climate Risk Index, India ranks among the top 10 countries most affected by climate change, and urban areas are particularly at risk.

Rising sea levels, changing rainfall patterns, and more frequent extreme weather events mean that cities need to be more resilient, yet the infrastructure in most Indian cities is woefully inadequate for these challenges.

But, water isn’t the only resource under pressure. As cities grow, they encroach on forests, agricultural lands, and other natural ecosystems. The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has found that India has lost over 30 per cent of its wetlands in the last five decades, largely due to urban expansion. 

These ecosystems play a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity, regulating climate, and providing natural flood management. When they are destroyed, cities not only lose their environmental buffers but also contribute to a vicious cycle of environmental degradation and climate vulnerability.

A Multiscalar Approach Is A Must

Experts agree that urban expansion should not happen in isolation but must be part of a larger, coordinated regional development strategy. “Regional planning is essential because cities do not exist in a vacuum. They are part of a wider landscape that includes rural areas, ecosystems, and natural resources,” says Rakesh Gupta, an economist specialising in urban development.

This approach requires collaboration between various levels of government and across sectors. It also requires the use of comprehensive data to understand population growth, infrastructure needs, and environmental impacts.

According to Gupta, “We need more sophisticated models that integrate land use, water management, transportation, and environmental sustainability.”

Currently, India’s planning seems to be guided by outdated models that prioritise urban expansion over sustainability. The National Urban Transport Policy, for example, focuses on building roads and highways, often at the cost of green spaces and waterways. Yet, the demand for roads and infrastructure is undeniable. 

By 2030, nearly 40 per cent of India’s population will live in urban areas, and the strain on transportation, water, and sanitation systems is set to intensify. Government data shows that only 30 per cent of Indian households have access to adequate sewerage systems, and many cities lack the infrastructure to manage basic services for their growing populations.

Urbanisation is inevitable, but it can be done more sustainably. The Bharatmala Project and other large-scale infrastructure programs are a step in the right direction in terms of improving connectivity between cities and regions.

However, these projects often prioritise economic growth over environmental considerations. 

“It’s not enough to build roads and bridges. We need to build cities and regions that can withstand the pressures of climate change and population growth,” says Gupta.

Arvind Rajyaguru from IIT Roorkee, specialising in regional modeling, emphasised two crucial points. First, he highlighted the importance of adopting a multiscalar approach. While assessing larger regions, it is essential to strategically consider lower scales, such as basin levels, and analyse how different construction typologies behave in various parts of the basin. 

This nuanced understanding must inform local neighborhood-level plans, taking into account the unique factors and variables at play. To achieve this, he advocates for the use of geo-sensing and mapping technologies to gather sophisticated data, enabling simulations that can inform policies for a sustainable future with water at the heart of urban planning.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and data analytics can provide planners with real-time insights into land use, water flow, and infrastructure needs, allowing for more informed decision-making.

Renewable energy and green building practices can also reduce the environmental footprint of urban development.

While corrective measures—such as clearing encroachments and implementing strict monitoring guidelines in brownfield contexts—are essential, the more critical task lies in how we map and plan smaller, emerging cities. 

As significant urban development occurs in these areas in the coming years, it is vital to adopt a comprehensive approach that prioritises sustainable growth and environmental integrity.

India’s current trajectory of urban growth is unsustainable without a shift towards holistic regional planning that integrates natural ecosystems, infrastructure needs, and climate resilience.