1. What triggered the concern about Indian cities’ preparedness for climate-induced rainfall?
The early and intense onset of the monsoon in May 2025 flooded Mumbai, disrupting transport, submerging roads, and inundating even newly inaugurated infrastructure. Despite timely alerts by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the city’s systems could not respond effectively. This highlighted how fragile urban infrastructure remains in the face of changing climate patterns.
2. Why are Indian cities especially vulnerable to intense rainfall events?
These factors are compounded by outdated drainage designs and unchecked urban growth.
3. How has urban planning failed to adapt to climate variability?
Indian cities have ignored their natural drainage systems. According to a National Institute of Urban Affairs study, most cities have lost 70–80% of their water bodies. In Delhi, more than 12,000 trees were cut between January 2021 and August 2023, as per court findings. This reveals inadequate ecological consideration in urban planning.
4. How does the Disaster Management Act 2025 respond to such emerging urban risks?
The Disaster Management (Amendment) Act 2025 brings “disaster risk reduction” into the definition of disaster management. It mandates:
This legal shift ensures urban flooding is no longer treated as a seasonal nuisance but as a structural governance challenge.
5. What is the role of the Urban Disaster Management Authority (UDMA)?
UDMA, created under the 2025 amendment, is tasked with:
It brings technical, administrative, and financial support under one umbrella.
6. Why has addressing this issue been so difficult despite known solutions?
The political economy of urban India plays a major role. Realtor lobbies resist restrictions on land use, and weak enforcement allows encroachments. Also, disaster planning is often reactive rather than preventive, with limited funding and institutional attention.
7. How does poor monsoon preparedness increase inequality?
Extreme rain events hit the poorest hardest. In Mumbai (2005), over 1,000 people died—most were slum residents. Inadequate drainage in poor localities, lack of safe shelter, and health risks due to water contamination make the urban poor more vulnerable during climate-related disasters.
8. What must Indian cities do to become monsoon-ready in a climate-sensitive world?
9. Why is climate resilience crucial for India’s investment goals?
With global investors seeking stable, climate-smart destinations, India positioning itself as a China-plus-one manufacturing hub must ensure its cities are functional and safe. Severe urban flooding undermines the ease of doing business and deters international investment.
10. What long-term planning is needed to reduce urban flood risk in India?
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