Tackling Urban Flooding

 

As monsoon approaches, Bhubaneswar once again grapples with the recurring menace of urban flooding, a problem that has become a hallmark of unplanned urbanisation and climate volatility. The recent inspection by Principal Secretary Usha Padhee underscores the urgency to address this issue holistically, combining engineering solutions, ecological restoration, and community participation. The focus on key drainage channels like the Ganguanala and Daya West Canal highlights the need to restore natural water flow and remove structural barriers, but the challenge runs deeper.

The roots of Bhubaneswar’s flooding lie in haphazard construction, encroachment of water bodies, and silt-clogged drains, as highlighted in reports. Rapid urbanisation has replaced permeable surfaces with concrete, disrupting natural drainage and exacerbating runoff. The city’s colonial-era drainage system, designed for a smaller population, is now overwhelmed. Similar patterns are visible across India—Mumbai’s annual deluges, Chennai’s 2015 catastrophe, and Bengaluru’s recent waterlogging woes—all stem from unchecked development and vanishing wetlands. Globally, cities like Houston, Jakarta, and Bangkok face analogous crises, where urban sprawl and poor planning amplify flood risks. Globally, urban flooding has surged due to climate change and poor planning. Cities like New York, Paris, and Guangzhou face increasing flood risks from extreme rainfall and rising sea levels. The 2021 floods in Germany and China's 'sponge city' initiative highlight the need for adaptive infrastructure. Bhubaneswar must learn from these examples to build resilience.

Bhubaneswar’s unprecedented growth, driven by its emergence as an education and IT hub, has come at a cost. The city’s urban architecture, characterised by concrete-dominated landscapes, lacks climate-responsive design. Traditional water-harvesting systems and natural drainage channels have been neglected in favour of rapid infrastructure expansion. Climate change has further intensified the problem, with erratic rainfall patterns leading to heavier downpours in shorter durations. The city’s planners must now prioritise sponge city principles—incorporating permeable pavements, green roofs, and urban wetlands—to absorb excess rainwater.

The way forward demands a multi-pronged approach. IIT Bhubaneswar’s innovation of pervious concrete pavements, which allow water infiltration, is a promising step. Such green infrastructure must be scaled alongside traditional measures like desilting and drain expansion. Equally critical is enforcing zoning laws to prevent encroachments and reviving water bodies as natural buffers. Community awareness and participatory governance can ensure sustained efforts, as flooding is not just an engineering failure but a systemic one.

Bhubaneswar’s aspiration to become a flood-resilient city hinges on translating inspections into actionable, time-bound plans. The monsoon clock is ticking, and the city’s response will test its commitment to sustainable urbanism. The lessons are clear: without integrating ecology into development, even the smartest cities will keep sinking. The time for reactive measures is over; Bhubaneswar must embrace proactive, climate-smart urban planning to safeguard its future.