UPSC DAW Mains Answer Writing 25th July 2025

UPSC DAW Mains Answer Writing 25th July 2025

Question

Urban flooding, exacerbated by climate change and poor planning, poses rising drowning risks in Indian cities. Examine the key challenges and suggest measures to enhance urban flood resilience through planning and community involvement. (15 marks, 250 words) 

Model Answer

Introduction:  

  • With climate change intensifying extreme weather events and poor urban planning failing to adapt, drowning risks have increased in cities, both during major floods and due to neglected everyday urban infrastructure. As per the World Health Organization (2023), drowning accounts for 75% of fatalities in flood-related disasters, highlighting its critical link to urban flood resilience. 

 Key Challenges of Urban Flooding and Associated Drowning Risks: 

  • Unplanned Urbanisation and Infrastructure Failures: 

  • Poorly designed stormwater systems, open drains, and uncovered tanks or pits pose direct drowning threats. 

  • E.g. Mumbai saw a 99.9% increase in built-up area in the last 27 years. The result is amplified surface runoff, with some areas experiencing up to 30 times more runoff compared to natural landscapes. 

  • Increased Climate Variability: 

  • Rising intensity of rainfall events due to climate change leads to urban flash floods. 

  • IPCC AR6 (2023) projects more frequent short-duration heavy rain events in South Asia. 

  • Lack of Flood-Resilient Urban Design: 

  • Most cities under Smart Cities Mission lack design adaptations for floods. 

  • NITI Aayog (2021) noted that urban planning in India often omits risk-informed development. 

  • Inadequate Maintenance and Financing: 

  • Drains remain unsilted, tanks are uncovered, and safety features like railings around water bodies are missing. 

  • The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG, 2020) highlighted poor fund utilisation for drainage projects in major cities like Mumbai and Chennai. 

  • Vulnerability of Children and Poor Communities: 

  • One-third of drowning deaths in India are among 0–14-year-olds. 

  • Slum areas are most exposed - located in low-lying zones and near water bodies. (Public Health Foundation of India, 2024) 

 Measures to Enhance Urban Flood Resilience: 

  • A. Strengthening Urban Planning and Infrastructure: 

  • Mainstream Flood Risk into City Master Plans: 

  • Enforce guidelines from Management of Urban Flooding (NDMA, 2010). 

  • Update land use zoning to preserve natural drainage systems. 

  • Build Resilient Infrastructure: 

  • Cover water tanks, fence canals, and use permeable materials in pavements. 

  • E.g., Bengaluru’s 2022 flood audit recommended retrofitting stormwater drains and restoring lake chains. 

  • Use Nature-Based Solutions (NbS): 

  • Urban wetlands and green buffers mitigate water accumulation. 

  • E.g., Kolkata East Wetlands are a Ramsar site that acts as a natural drainage basin. 

  • B. Community Participation and Local Accountability: 

  • Ward-Level Hazard Mapping and Safety Audits: 

  • Identify local drowning hotspots (open manholes, uncovered pits). 

  • Use participatory GIS mapping involving community groups. 

  • School and Home Safety Education: 

  • Launch campaigns on water safety, particularly in slums and schools. 

  • Introduce swimming and basic life-saving skills in school curricula. 

  • Social Accountability Mechanisms: 

  • Residents' associations and RWAs should monitor maintenance of stormwater infrastructure. 

  • Enable grievance redressal via municipal apps. 

  • C. Institutional and Policy Reforms: 

  •  Include Drowning in Disaster Risk Management Policies:  

  • Current NDMA policies underrepresent drowning as a flood-related hazard. 

  • Integrate drowning into the National Strategy for Prevention of Unintentional Injuries (MoHFW, 2023). 

  • Climate Adaptation Funding and Public-Private Collaboration: 

  • Encourage private builders to follow BIS flood-proof construction norms. 

  • CSR funds can be channelled to maintain school and community infrastructure. 

  • Decentralised Early Warning and Rapid Response: 

  • Equip municipalities with real-time flood alerts and community emergency teams. 

  • E.g., Surat’s Urban Climate Resilience Plan uses ICT-based early warning systems (ICLEI Report, 2023). 

 Conclusion:  

  • Urban flooding is no longer just an infrastructural inconvenience; it is a multi-dimensional urban disaster with rising fatalities from drowning. Strengthening flood resilience requires a whole-of-society approach - responsive urban governance, climate-aware infrastructure, empowered communities, and targeted policy reforms. As the WHO asserts: "Anyone can drown; no one should." A safer urban future demands proactive, inclusive, and climate-resilient planning.