Greater loss of life and property due to disruptive planning
If floods are natural, why is there a greater loss of life and property today? This question must be answered from a development perspective. Let us consider two examples: the development pattern in the Himalayas and other mountains, and the urban development models across India.
Urban models that lead to increased vulnerability
The current model of urbanization and urban growth is guided by the 4-5 decades old notion that “cities are engines of growth”. Once this becomes the guiding principle, questions such as “what kind of growth?”, “who will be the main driver of growth?” and “what is the relationship with urban ecology and environment?” cannot be brushed aside. Growth in cities, however, is guided by the principles of economic growth, with land ownership playing an important role.
Projects over the last three decades, be it in mobility, housing, utilities, etc., have been oriented towards utilising the excess power generation capacity of cities. For example, construction of flyovers, widening of roads, smart city projects and other infrastructure projects are being pushed forward without considering important environmental aspects and urban common assets such as open spaces, water bodies, footpaths, playgrounds, parks, etc. The recent floods in Delhi, despite high rainfall, resulted in destruction as drains were blocked, or misused for construction of flyovers and metro lines, or open spaces were affected. A recent study pointed out that cities that had hardly experienced floods were particularly badly hit by rainfall due to smart city mission projects.
Mountains need a different development approach
In the paradigm of economic growth, even mountains are viewed from the perspective of commercialization of the natural environment. Take the example of the hydropower projects in the Himalayas. Scientists have been pushing for the development of run-of-river and small and micro hydropower projects, claiming that such a shift would have less impact on the environment. However, the recent flash floods have shown that the riverbeds that are channeled through the mountains and become garbage dumps are extremely vulnerable. The small and micro hydropower projects have been destroyed by rainfall on mountain tops, leading to massive destruction in the Rampur and Kullu regions of Himachal Pradesh.
