Climate vulnerability profiling of Indian cities

1. Climate vulnerability profiling of Indian cities Integrated Research and Action for Development (IRADe), C-80, Shivalik, New Delhi-110017

2. Introduction Cities, with total population reaching in millions are becoming focal points for climate change impacts and urbanization in turn results in growing vulnerability to environmental hazards. Today India accounts for 17 per cent of the world’s population Urban population increased from 25.8 million to 377 million in 2011 The net increase in annual temperatures in 2030s with respect to 1970s ranges between 1.7oC – 2.2oC, with extreme temperatures increasing by 1-4oC Climate change has impacted the frequency and intensities of the natural hazards

3. Disaster events in India

4. Aim of the study To conduct an objective and comprehensive vulnerability Profiling of 20 Indian cities while assessing the climate change adaptation needs of the country . • Objectives: • 1. To assist policy‐makers in assessing and responding to the risks associated with climate change in Indian cities. • 2. To identify and characterize the hazards associated with climate change at the city‐level; (mainly JNNURM Cities) • 3. Identify the most vulnerable population segments and ecosystems (people, locations, sectors) of the city; and • 4. Assess the city’s ability or capacity to adapt to anticipated changes. • 5. Developing a policy brief that includes specific recommendations on how to effectively mainstream climate resilience in various national level initiatives

5. 20 Cities from 14 States are selected for study

6. Methodology • IRADe Assessment framework -HIGS

7. Vulnerability Profiling Template for Each City

8. Case Study Delhi Delhi is the capital state of India and an important power centre of the nation since the ages Population in 2011 was 16.3 million In 2001, Delhi UA was home to a population of 13 million Delhi is second highly populated city in India after Mumbai

9. Disaster Profile of the city Flood frequency • Floods in Delhi are not so much a natural phenomenon as is due to poor urban management and governance issue. • This is very clear from the recurring phenomenon of floods in the river Yamuna and flash floods caused by rains due to choked drains of Delhi.

10. Flood vulnerability • The city has been experiencing floods of various magnitudes in the past due to floods in the Yamuna and the Najafgarh Drain system. • The Yamuna crossed its danger level (fixed at 204.83m) twenty five times during the last 33 years. • Since 1900, Delhi has experienced six major floods in the years 1924, 1947, 1976, 1978, 1988 and 1995 when peak level of Yamuna river was one meter or more above danger level of 204.49m at old rail bridge (2.66m above the danger level) occurred on sixth September 1978. The second record peak of 206.92m was on twenty seventh September 1988. Source: http://delhi.gov.in/wps/wcm/connect/doit_dm/DM/Home/Vulnerabilities/Hazards/Floods

11. Flood Zoning • thirteen zones based on the flooding risk in relation to incremental rise in the water level of the Yamuna (DDA, 1993). • Cover a range from 199m to 212 m level of water in the Yamuna. • This zoning map covers part of North Delhi on the West bank of the Yamuna and almost the entire Trans Yamuna Area on the East bank. • Besides this, the Delhi Flood Control Order has also divided NCT of Delhi into four Flood Sectors, namely Sectors, namely, Shahadra; Wazirabad – Babrapur; Alipur; and Nangloi - Najafgarh sectors. • Overflow causing many monsoon related diseases. Local Flooding • Increasing during recent years. Urban areas are characterized by a high area under impervious surfaces (Roads, pavements, houses etc). • High surface water run-off rates resulting in loss of soft landscape This results in flash floods in the low-lying areas even after moderate precipitation. • Flooding due to the city's 18 major drains has also become a common phenomenon. Already under the pressure of the city's effluent discharge, these drains experience reverse flow from the Yamuna. Source: http://www.delhi.gov.in/DoIT/DOIT_DM/risks%20and%20vulnerability-1.pdf

12. Settlement Pattern in Flood Plain • High-risk zones have high population densities and sub standard housing structures. These include areas of North Delhi, and Trans Yamuna Area. • Families living in the villages and unauthorized colonies within the river-bed are exposed to the highest risk from floods. There are over 15,000 such families, having over 75,000 persons. • Direct effect of floods in the river Yamuna and the city's network of drains, affects the population living in the Yamuna River-bed. • Local flash floods and water logging increased surface run-off due to high ratio of hard surfaces leading to flash floods. • Risk of break in embankments: Protection from the river by embankments leads to a false sense of safety and development starts taking place in the shadow of these embankments. Sources: Delhi CDP, October, 2006, Department of Urban Development Government of Delhi, IL&FS Ecosmart Limited, New Delhi http://www.delhi.gov.in/DoIT/DOIT_DM/risks%20and%20vulnerability-1.pdf

13. Institutional framework The institutional framework for urban management in Delhi has a multiplicity of agencies, both central and state. The institutions/agencies are categorized as (A) Central Government Agencies; (B) State Government Agencies. Source: Delhi CDP, October, 2006, Department of Urban Development Government of Delhi, IL&FS Ecosmart Limited, New Delhi

14. Emerging issues in the city • While Delhi is making progress towards climate mitigation through emission reductions and environmental improvements, there is a significant lack of awareness and planning about the issues of adaptation to climate change. • Mehrotra et al (2009) note that Delhi’s response so far is often project oriented hence various incentives (i.e. subsidies and grants) have been effective for initiating projects, • Rainwater‐harvesting systems installation subsidies have created demand Such experiences hold the potential to inform adaptation efforts as well. • Delhi’s local efforts will need to be reconciled with regional and national priorities.

15. Delhi’s Vulnerability

16. Contd…………… Delhi’s Vulnerability

17. A Comparative Overview

19. Key Findings Most of the cities are vulnerable to floods and droughts. this is mainly due to drainage issues in the cities . Maximum number of cities faces issues with municipal solid waste management Sewage collection and treatment is another major issue faced by the cities

20. Hazards exposure

21. Flood prone cities in India

22. Social Aspects

23. Decadal Growth of population 2001-2011(in percentage) Source: IRADe Analysis 2012 (data source-census 2011)

24. Infrastructure There are only three cities with water supply above 135 lpcd 2. Mega city like Kolkata is in critical stage 3. Cities with population more than million provide less than 135lpcd 4. Most of the cities has less than 50% of sewerage treated

25. Strom Water Drainage 1. Most of the cities have poor storm water drainage system 2. In 2010-2011 most of the cities have experienced flood and water logging incidences more than 80 times 3. Hyderabad has experienced maximum number of water logging and urban flooding in 2010-2011

26. Recommendations &The Way Forward • Flood Moderation and maintaining water bodies: • Reduce non-climate stressors • Conduct medium- and long-term planning • To put Climate resilient agenda on the priority list • Capacity building at local, national levels

27. The way forward The Central Government has initiated various measures for assisting the States in the management of floods, this includes: • There was setting up of the RashtriyaBarhAyog in 1976 to look into the flood problem and suggest remedial measures. Based on its recommendations, flood management strategy in the country was formulated and forwarded to all the concerned States; (ii) Constitution of the Ganga Flood Control Commission in 1972 for the Ganga Basin States covering all the 23 river systems of Ganga; (iii) Constitution of the Brahmaputra Board fix flood management covering the rivers Brahmaputra, Bar and their major tributaries; (iv) Formulation of the National Water Policy, 2002, which has recommended fix the preparation of basin-wise Master Plans for flood management and control and for providing adequate flood cushion in the reservoir projects; (v) Constitution of a Task Force in 2004 for Flood management and Erosion Control in Assam and its neighboring States as well as Bihar, West Bengal and Eastern Uttar Pradesh. (vi) A State Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Water Resources ‘Flood Management Programme” with an outlay of Rs,80 billion has been approved by the Central Government. in November, 2007, for providing Central assistance to the State Government for critical flood management and erosion control works.

28. Climate Resilience Plan • Development of State / Regional