“Urban floods in India are becoming more frequent and intense. Examine the underlying causes and the governance challenges involved.”

As observed in places like Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Hyderabad, urban flooding has become one of India’s most urgent environmental and governance issues. Wetlands, lakes, and floodplains are examples of natural drainage systems that have been severely diminished by rapid and unchecked urbanization, causing rainfall to build up without an ecological escape route. Concreteization of surfaces has reduced groundwater absorption at the same time, overwhelming current stormwater networks with even modest rainfall. The extent of urban flooding has increased due to the intensification of short-duration, high-intensity downpour events brought on by climate change.

This situation is greatly exacerbated by inadequacies in governance. Water, drainage, transportation, and urban planning are all managed by several authorities, which results in dispersed duties and poor emergency coordination. Due to the current climate, outdated drainage infrastructure that was initially built for far lower rainfall capacity fails. Structural risks are increased by encroachment on river courses, unlawful building, and lax zoning enforcement. Rapid reaction is hampered by unreliable early-warning systems and insufficient catastrophe preparation, leaving residents and vital services vulnerable to interruptions.

As a result, urban flooding is a reflection of deeper governance failings as well as an environmental threat. Building climate-resilient Indian cities requires improving infrastructure, restoring natural ecosystems, strengthening urban planning, and guaranteeing unified institutional accountability.

UPSC General Studies Paper Preparation

Public Administration Optional Exam Preparation

About the Author: Jyoti Verma