Why in News: India’s cities, expected to host nearly a billion people by 2050, face growing risks from extreme heat, floods, and climate disasters, making it urgent to build climate-resilient housing and infrastructure for sustainable urbanisation.
Introduction
- Urbanisation is a defining feature of India’s development journey.
- With cities projected to host nearly a billion people by 2050, they will generate most new jobs and economic opportunities.
- However, climate risks like extreme heat, floods, cyclones, and landslides threaten to derail this growth.
- India faces a narrow window to ensure that new housing and infrastructure—half of which is yet to be built—are designed to be resilient, sustainable, and inclusive.
Key Challenges
1. Climate and Environmental Risks
- Flooding: Two-thirds of urban dwellers face risks of pluvial or surface flooding. Annual potential losses projected at $5.5–30 billion by 2070.
- Heat islands: Urban density, inadequate green cover, and concrete-based expansion exacerbate extreme heat, increasing mortality and health risks.
- Cyclones, landslides, earthquakes: Coastal and hilly urban areas face recurring hazards.
2. Housing and Infrastructure Deficit
- Half of India’s 2070 housing stock is yet to be built.
- Current housing is energy-inefficient and vulnerable.
- Structural flood control (e.g., Brásilia) vs. integrated stormwater management (e.g., Chennai, Kolkata) — India still lags in scaling.
3. Urban Transport and Productivity
- Over one-fourth of roads and nearly half of railways exposed to flood risk.
- Disruption in mobility directly lowers productivity of urban economies.
4. Governance and Planning Deficit
- Fragmented responsibilities and weak institutional capacity.
- Lack of climate-risk integration in planning and housing policy.
- Municipalities under-resourced and dependent on higher tiers of government.
Good Practices (Domestic & Global)
- Kolkata: Level flood forecasting and warning systems.
- Chennai: Improving storm water management.
- Brazil (Brasília model): 80% stormwater captured with structural flood control.
- Integrated approaches globally: Emphasis on no-build zones, drainage, green spaces, and climate-sensitive design.
Way Forward
1. Climate-Resilient Housing
- Integrate location-sensitive, disaster-resilient designs.
- Promote energy efficiency, heat resistance, and rainwater absorption.
2. Urban Planning Reforms
- Adopt no-build zones and restrict high-risk areas.
- Expand nature-based solutions (wetlands, green roofs, permeable surfaces).
- Align housing expansion with masterplans that factor climate risk.
3. Resilient Transport Systems
- Invest in flood-proofing roads and railways.
- Ensure timely maintenance of urban infrastructure.
4. Institutional Strengthening
- Build capacity of municipalities to integrate climate risks.
- Encourage coordination across ministries and tiers of government.
- Empower institutions like National Institute of Urban Affairs, AMRUT, Smart Cities Mission to mainstream resilience.
5. Financing Mechanisms
- Mobilise green finance and climate funds.
- Encourage private sector investment in resilient infrastructure.
- Incentivise affordable, climate-smart housing.
UPSC Relevance
GS Paper I (Urbanisation): Challenges of housing, migration, and urban flooding.
Mains Practice Question
Q.“With India’s urban population set to approach a billion by 2050, building climate-resilient housing and infrastructure has become a necessity rather than a choice.” Discuss the key challenges posed by climate change to Indian cities and suggest measures to make urbanisation sustainable, inclusive, and disaster-resilient. (250 words