Heavy monsoon rains and overflowing of rivers have caused severe urban flooding in cities of Punjab.
- Going forward, urban population in India is expected to nearly double from 480 million in 2020 to around 951 million by 2050.
- This highlights the need to build climate-resilient cities in India.
Key Challenges & Solutions for Indian Cities
- Flooding: By 2070, two-thirds of urban residents may face floods with $30B losses.
- Solution: Stronger drainage, nature-based solutions, flood warnings (e.g., Kolkata city based flood forecasting model).
- Extreme Heat: Urban heat islands raise temperatures by 3–5°C, affecting health and productivity.
- Solution: Heat action plans, urban greenery (e.g., Ahmedabad’s heat action plan).
- Transportation: Flooding of 10–20% of roads can cripple >50% of networks.
- Solution: Risk mapping, improved drainage, resilient and green public transport (e.g., Delhi Metro).
- Municipal Services: Waste management and energy recovery systems need major upgrades.
- Solution: Modernise waste systems, expand waste-to-energy, improve environmental quality (e.g., Indore’s waste management model).
- Governance & Finance: Weak institutional capacity and limited private investment.
- Solution: Strengthen institutions, ensure citizen participation, and expand private sector financing.
