Global warming has changed the rainfall pattern leading to abnormal flooding specially in urban areas. The presentation, through a case of Lucknow, the capital city of most populous state of India discusses ways and means for mitigating the menace of urban flooding inIndia.
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Mitigating the Menace of Urban Flooding in Uttar Pradesh through Spatial Planning- a case of Lucknow
1. Mitigating the Menace of Urban Flooding in
Uttar Pradesh through Spatial Planning
- a case of Lucknow
Prof. Subodh Shankar FITP
Former Chief Architect Planner, Uttar Pradesh Housing & Development Board
subodh.arch@gmail.com
2. Urban Flooding
UF is significantly different from rural flooding as urbanization leads to developed catchments
significantly increasing the flood peaks. Consequently, flooding occurs very quickly due to faster flow
times. As urban areas are densely populated and people living in vulnerable areas suffer due to flooding,
sometimes resulting in loss of life. It is not only the event of flooding but the secondary effect of exposure
to infection also has its toll in terms of human suffering, loss of livelihood and, in extreme cases, loss of
life- NDMA
Urban flooding is the inundation of land or property in a built environment, particularly in more densely
populated areas (like cities), caused by rainfall overwhelming the capacity of drainage systems
UF can further be defined as ‘the submergence of usually dry areas by a large amount of water that
comes from sudden excessive rainfall, an overflowing river or lake, melting snow or an exceptionally high
tide’
In other words, the flooding of land or property in a built environment, especially in densely populated
cities where rainfall exceeds drainage systems’ capacity, is known as urban flooding
3. Flood Scenario of India
India is one of the most flood prone
countries in the world.
The principal reasons for flood lie in the
very nature of natural ecological systems
in this country, namely, the monsoon, the
highly silted river systems and the steep
and highly erodible mountains, particularly
those of the Himalayan ranges
The average rainfall in India is 1150 mm
23 of the 36 States and UT in the country
are subject to floods and 40 million
hectares of land
1/8 of the country’s geographical area is
prone to floods.
4. Urban Flooding Issues : India
Dense Urbanization - Open spaces marginalized
Reduction of the percolation capacity of land
Short Duration heavy rainfall
Unsustainable storm water drainage systems- age old
Shrinking water bodies
Encroachments along and on the natural wet lands and water channels
Inadequate urban planning and infrastructure
Estimated revenue loss per annum 10-15 thousand crore (SBI report 2023)
5. Flood Scenario of
Uttar Pradesh
Annual rainfall in the state ranges from 600–2,000
mm
90 % rainfall occurs during monsoon : July -
September
Floods a recurring problem- east more prone
Fatalities and heavy damage to crops & property
24 % of national flooded area lies in UP
Ghaghara, Sharda, Gandak, Rapti are main
culprits
11 % (27 lakh Ha. ) of State area gets affected
annually.
Annual loss of around 432 crores.
6. Lucknow
Situated in the central Gangetic plain and forms a
part of Sai-Gomti sub-basin.
Population of 2.8 million ( 2011 census)
Eleventh most populous city of India
Area:349 square kilometers
Density: 8,100 persons per sq. km.
Terrain: Almost flat with a depression in north-
eastern part.( MSL 123.5 – 110.0 m.)
The general slope is from north and North-west to
south and south-east.
Gomti flows in the heart of the city from north-west
to south east
The drainage of Gomti river is mainly through
Haidar canal and Kukrail nala.
7. Lucknow Floods
Lucknow is located on both sides of the banks
of the Gomti River
2 major water channels namely Kukrail and
Haider canal drain city’s storm water into
the river
It has a history of being affected by floods
due to:
heavy rainfall,
river overflow,
breaches in the embankments
and;
blockage of the natural and manmade
drainage systems due to encroachments
and clogging.
Backflow
8. Major floods-Lucknow
1923: This is one of the earliest recorded disastrous floods in the city's history. Heavy rainfall – overflow of Gomti, low-lying areas badly
affected; Property, crops, and infrastructure badly damaged: forced many people to take shelter in higher places; also disrupted the
communication and transportation systems, and posed a threat to public health and safety.
1960: Heavy downpour in the month of October led to the overflow of the Gomti River. Although after the 1923 flood, the Butler palace area
was protected by the construction of a marginal embankment, however, as water spilled through two breaches, water inundated the low-lying
areas. The flood submerged almost half of the city under several feet of water. It was one of the worst floods in Lucknow's history. Due to poor
drainage system of the city the water level dropped very slowly,
1971 : This flood occurred in the month of September. Similar to 1960 flood, it was also caused by two breaches in the embankment of the
Gomti River. The breaches were caused by the high-water level of the river, which was about two meters above the danger mark. The flood
submerged many parts of the city under one to 1.2 meters of water, affecting the main shopping area, some residential areas, and the zoological
garden.
2008 : It was also caused by the overflow of the Gomti River after heavy rainfall. The flood submerged several parts of the city, affecting more
than a lakh people and killing at least 15. The flood situation was worsened by the inadequate drainage system of the city, which could not cope
with the runoff from the urban areas. The encroachment of floodplains and wetlands by illegal constructions also reduced the natural capacity of
the river to absorb excess water.
2021: This flood was a recent calamity that affected Lucknow and its surrounding districts. The flood was caused by continuous rainfall for
several days, which increased the water level of the Gomti River, disrupting natural drainage. Due to heavy encroachments and clogging of the
natural and the manmade drainage system the water outflow was badly affected.
11. Kukrail River/Nala?
28 km. long Kukrail River/ Nala, originates
from the Kukrail Forest in village Dasaul.
Once upon a time it was extremely clean and
people used to take bath in to it but now it
has turned into a Nala collecting refuse from
the adjacent residential areas. Km. of its
length is affected by encroachments.
Now, governments plans to revive its glory by
developing picnic spots on the lines of
Sabarmati River front development.
12. Haider Canal
Built by Nawab Wazir of Awadh, Ghazi-ud-din
Haider Ali, between 1814 and 1827,
The Canal was supposed to pass through
Lucknow for irrigation purposes, connecting
the river Gomti to the river Ganga.
However, the dream project came to a halt
due to a lack of scientific inputs
The canal now plays the role of a drain,
carrying the city's waste and dumping it into
Gomti river
13. Vanishing of Lakes and Ponds
According to a survey conducted by
Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC),
there were around 964 ponds in the city in
1952.
The number declined to 494 in 2006.
Majority of which are unidentifiable due to
reclamation.
The study further revealed that around
128 ponds were fully encroached by big
habitations along the banks , 133 were
lost to the housing projects of LDA . 32 to
UPHDB projects, 18 ponds were lost to
roads construction while 4-5 ponds were
engulfed by the railway projects in last 20
years
14. Current issues with Natural Water Bodies in Lucknow
S. No.
Name of the Ponds/ Water
Tanks
Ownershi
p
Current Issues
1. Khaika Talab LMC Polluted, Sewage fed, Depleted water recharging, Cattle
Wallowing, Foul Smell
1. Haiwat Mau Mawaiya Lake LMC Sewage fed Lake, Cattle wallowing, Open Defecation in
the surrounding, Cloths washing, Encroachments
1. Aurangabad Talab LDA Sewage Discharge, Encroachment, Waste Dumping in the
Lake
1. Amausi Lake at Nadarganj Industrial Area LMC Siltation in the Lake, Gets dry in Summer Season
1. Buttler Palace Lake LDA Sewage Discharge, Solid waste Discharge, Siltation and
Sedimentation
1. Kathauta Lake, Chinhat LDA Sedimentation and Encroachment
1. Jamuna Lake LDA Sewage Discharge, Dumping of C&D and Slaughter House
Waste, Cattle Wallowing
1. Chiraunda Ka Talab LMC Sewage Discharge, Solid Waste Dumping, Encroachment
in the fringe area
1. Moti Jheel LMC Sewage Discharge, Solid Waste Dumping, Encroachment
in the fringe area
1. Tikat Rai Talab LMC Sewage Discharge, Solid Waste Dumping, Encroachment
in the fringe area
18. Respecting the Existing Contours
All Urban Development Project must
respect the existing contours
Thus detailed contour plans be got
prepared before undertaking any UD
project.
The concept of “ Earth Balancing” be
revisited by Engineering Partners.
* Picture: Zaha Hadid’S Beko Masterplan in Belgrade
19. Cluster Planning
versus
Linear Planning
Generally housing layouts are prepared on
the cluster or linear pattern.
It has been observed that closed cluster
planning obstructs the free flow of rain
water while the linear pattern, if directed
towards the natural flow direction,
facilitates the free flow of water.
Glancing at these planning patterns gives a
fair idea of the actual situation.
20. Sponge City
A city that is designed to passively absorb,
clean and use rainfall in an ecologically
friendly way that reduces dangerous and
polluted runoff.
Associated techniques for sponge cities
include permeable roads, rooftop gardens,
rainwater harvesting, rain gardens, green
spaces and blue areas such as ponds and
lakes.
The idea of a sponge city is to make cities
more permeable so as to hold and use the
water which falls upon it.
21. Conclusion & Recommendations
1. Detailed hydrological surveys be conducted before undertaking any further urban development
2. Local Master Plans must clearly demarcate areas fit and unfit for human habitation.
3. The detailed layout plans of urban development schemes must respect the existing contours and drainage
pattern
4. Linear planning pattern (as compared to cluster) is preferable as it facilitates increased outflow of rain water
5. High Rise constructions be encouraged to make available more permeable open spaces
6. The local municipal administration must ensure saving of existing ponds and other water bodies and also try to
restore the lost water bodies
7. Existing drainage system must be revamped to meet the challenges of excessive rain fall expected due to
global warming and climate change
8. Transformation of porous land to impervious be minimized
9. Existing water channels be made free from encroachments and unauthorized occupation
10. The existing water bodies be periodically desilted
11. Plan and Design all Urban Developments based on the principles of “Sponge City”
12. Develop New Towns
