Urban Development and Disaster Resilience

The increasing frequency of disasters, especially during the monsoon season, highlights the urgent need for urban development strategies that prioritize disaster resilience in Indian cities. Here’s an overview of the current situation, vulnerabilities, and what constitutes a disaster-resilient city:

Current Context

Rising Disaster Frequency:

• Problem: Indian cities are increasingly facing various disasters, exacerbated by the monsoon season. The recent torrential rains in Shimla and Solan, Himachal Pradesh, which caused landslides, flash floods, and cloudbursts, underscore the challenges urban areas face in handling such events.

Vulnerabilities of Indian Cities

• Population Centers:
• Current Status: Over 30% of India's population lives in cities, and this is projected to rise to 40% by 2030.
• Risk: High population density and developmental pressures in urban areas inherently increase the risk of disasters and make effective management more complex.
• Unplanned Urbanization:
• Issue: Urban growth in India has largely been unplanned, leading to significant environmental and resource degradation.
• Example: Cities like Chennai, Kolkata, and Mumbai were already experiencing severe environmental degradation before 2014.
• Climate Change:
• Impact: Climate change amplifies infrastructure strain, leading to more frequent and severe climate-related disasters such as heatwaves, urban floods, and cyclones.
• Existing Vulnerabilities:
• Challenges: Urban settings face inherent vulnerabilities, including urban poverty, informal employment, and social inequality, which exacerbate the impact of disasters.

Characteristics of a Disaster-Resilient City

According to the National Institute of Disaster Management, a disaster-resilient city is characterized by the following:

• Adherence to Building Codes:
• Safety Measures: Ensures that building codes are followed and that informal settlements are not located in high-risk areas such as flood plains or steep slopes.
• Effective Local Government:
• Governance: Features an inclusive, competent, and accountable local government that focuses on sustainable urbanization and disaster risk reduction.
• Local Information Base:
• Data Management: Maintains a shared, local information base on disaster losses, hazards, risks, and vulnerabilities, which helps in informed decision-making.
• Community Empowerment:
• Participation: Encourages public participation in planning and decision-making processes, values local and indigenous knowledge, and leverages local resources and capacities.
• Disaster Anticipation and Mitigation:
• Preparedness: Implements measures to anticipate and mitigate disaster impacts, including the use of monitoring and early warning technologies to protect infrastructure and community assets.
• Response and Recovery:
• Resilience: Capable of effective response, immediate recovery, and restoration of basic services to resume social, institutional, and economic activities swiftly after a disaster.

Initiatives and Mechanisms for Developing Urban Disaster Resilience

To enhance urban disaster resilience in India, various initiatives and mechanisms have been established, addressing governance, local responsibilities, and funding. Here’s a detailed look at these efforts:

1. Governance Framework

• Disaster Management Act, 2005:
• Institutions: Establishes bodies like the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs), and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
• Objective: Ensures a structured approach to disaster management through a clear mandate and institutional support.
• National Policy on Disaster Management, 2009:
• Vision: Aims to create a safe and disaster-resilient India through a holistic, proactive, multi-disaster approach, incorporating technology and strategic planning.
• National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) 2016:
• Framework: Provides guidelines for all phases of disaster management, from preparedness to recovery, guiding government agencies in their roles and responsibilities.

2. Role of Urban Local Governments (ULGs)

• Responsibilities: ULGs are crucial in disaster resilience through:
• Building Codes: Enforcing regulations to ensure safety in construction.
• Urban Planning: Developing and implementing land use regulations and zoning laws.
• Basic Infrastructure: Providing essential services like fire protection, healthcare, and emergency response planning.

3. Government Schemes

• Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT):
• Focus: Aims to transform cities into smart, sustainable, and livable spaces.
• Housing for All (Urban) Scheme:
• Goal: Ensures affordable housing and improved urban infrastructure.
• Smart Cities Mission:
• Objective: Develops cities with smart solutions to improve urban living standards and economic growth.

4. Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework

• Indicators: Evaluates cities based on:
• Urban Planning: Integrating climate resilience into planning processes.
• Green Cover and Biodiversity: Enhancing green spaces and biodiversity.
• Energy and Green Buildings: Promoting energy efficiency and sustainable building practices.
• Mobility and Air Quality: Improving transportation systems and air quality.
• Water Management: Efficient water use and management practices.
• Waste Management: Effective waste disposal and recycling systems.

5. Union Budget 2024-25

• Electric Bus Systems:
• Investment: ₹1,300 crore allocated to encourage the adoption of electric buses, promoting eco-friendly and cost-effective public transportation solutions.

Challenges in Building Disaster Resilience

• Lack of Planning:
• Issue: 65% of Indian cities lack master plans, and existing plans often overlook climate change impacts.
• Governance Issues:
• Problem: Political influences can lead to uncontrolled development in disaster-prone areas.
• Concretization:
• Effect: Increasing urbanization with concrete surfaces exacerbates heat island effects and reduces green spaces.
• Crumbling Infrastructure:
• Concern: Inadequate sewerage and drainage systems lead to frequent waterlogging and flooding.
• Insufficient Health Infrastructure:
• Need: There is a lack of adequate resources and a rapid response system in times of crisis.
• Departmentalization:
• Issue: Fragmented departmental operations complicate integrated disaster management.
• Lack of Private Funding:
• Challenge: Stagnant private investment exacerbates the infrastructure funding gap.

Way Forward

• Governance:
• Decentralization: Disaster management should be devolved to municipalities with empowered functionaries for better implementation and oversight.
• Finance:
• Climate Finance: Explore creation of land banks, CSR funding, and public-private partnerships (PPPs) to address funding needs for disaster resilience and sustainable development.
• Participatory Planning:
• Inclusivity: Involve communities in planning and decision-making, considering informal sectors and vulnerabilities.
• Nature-Based Developments:
• Integration: Utilize natural materials and designs in construction to reduce vulnerability, as seen in Uttarakhand where concrete structures were associated with higher fatalities.
• Greening Urban Spaces:
• Strategy: Develop multiple small green spaces throughout cities to manage microclimates effectively, as opposed to focusing on large, single green areas.

By addressing these challenges and leveraging existing and proposed initiatives, Indian cities can enhance their resilience to disasters, ensuring safer, more sustainable urban environments