Mains Practice Questions

Approach:

• Define the increasing disaster risks faced by Indian cities due to urbanization and infrastructure challenges.
• Discuss the key challenges in urban disaster management and the need for integrating DRR into urban planning and outline measures for enhancing disaster resilience.
• Conclude suitably.

Introduction

Indian cities are experiencing rapid population and infrastructure growth, increasing their exposure to natural disasters like floods and earthquakes, as well as man-made hazards such as fires and industrial accidents. Despite progress in disaster management, resilience remains limited, necessitating integrating DRR into urban planning to build resilient, safer cities.

Body

Challenges in Urban Disaster Management:

• Rapid and Unplanned Urbanization: Cities expand into floodplains, wetlands, and seismic zones without proper regulation, increasing disaster risk.
  • Bengaluru’s flooding is aggravated by encroachments on stormwater drains and inadequate drainage capacity, clear signs of poor urban planning that ignores floodplain management, a key DRR principle.
• Weak Enforcement of Building Regulations: Many urban structures fail to comply with building codes or zoning laws.
  • The Morbi bridge collapse (2022) in Gujarat was a stark reminder of the consequences of neglecting safety standards.
• Fragmented Governance: Multiple agencies handle disaster response and urban development with limited coordination, resulting in inefficiencies and gaps during crises.
• Insufficient Early Warning and Communication Systems: Disaster alerts often fail to reach vulnerable communities, such as slum dwellers and marginalized groups, limiting timely evacuation and preparation.
  • Lack of early warning dissemination and last-mile connectivity severely hampered rescue efforts and contributed to the high casualty toll during 2013 kedarnath flash flood (NIDM and post-disaster assessments).
• Public Participation Deficit: Urban residents are often unaware or unwilling of disaster risks or preparedness practices, reducing community resilience and increasing reliance on reactive responses.

Need for Integrating DRR into Urban Planning and Infrastructure:

• Systematic Risk Assessment: Urban planning should be guided by comprehensive hazard and vulnerability mapping to identify flood zones, seismic areas, and at-risk populations.
  • Programs like PMAY must prioritize retrofitting and rebuilding slum housing to disaster-resilient standards, reducing risks for vulnerable communities.
• Localized Urban Disaster Management Plans: Cities must create disaster management plans tailored to challenges like dense populations, infrastructure protection, and transport issues, as required by the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
  • To address climate variability, they should implement drainage systems, green infrastructure (e.g., permeable pavements, green roofs), and renewable energy solutions in line with the NAPCC to reduce risks from heatwaves, and droughts.
• Building Resilience: Urban planning regulations need to mandate disaster-resilient design in construction (earthquake-resistant structures, flood defenses), supported by resilience audits before approval.
  • Incorporating DRR into model building codes and zoning laws strengthens urban infrastructure sustainability.
• Improved Coordination and Capacity Building: A unified command and better coordination among disaster management authorities, urban local bodies, emergency responders, and civil society enhance preparedness and rapid response capabilities.

Policy Frameworks for Resilient Urban Planning:

• Strong implementation: Strengthen implementation of the Disaster Management Act, to ensure mandatory disaster preparedness and mitigation plans at urban levels.
• Enforcement of Bye-Laws: Enforce Model Building Bye-Laws (2016) to promote disaster-resilient construction and safer infrastructure in cities.
• National Disaster Management Guidelines: Utilize National Disaster Management Guidelines to conduct urban risk assessments, vulnerability mapping, and integrate DRR into all aspects of city planning and development.
• Use of Technology: Expand the Pan-India implementation of the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP)-based Integrated Alert System to ensure seamless, geo-targeted dissemination of disaster warnings across all urban and rural areas.
  • Utilize Cell Broadcast technology to deliver real-time, multilingual alerts directly to mobile users.
• Participatory Resilience: Awareness campaigns, participatory planning, and inclusion of local knowledge improve public readiness and foster resilience culture.

Conclusion:

Integrating DRR ensures that urban growth is sustainable, inclusive, and resilient to both natural and man-made disasters. Effective integration demands a multi-sectoral approach involving policymakers, urban planners, emergency services, and citizens, underpinned by strong legal and institutional frameworks.