URBAN FLOODING – DISASTER PREVENTION AND MITIGATION
Flood management with integrated holistic plan
Flooding is an annual event in many cities in monsoon region. Flooding occurs in coastal, deltic areas and river basins. Towns and villages are flooded with loss of life and properties. The sporadic urbanisation, unsustainable construction in water basins, filling up and silting of canals and waterbodies and inadequate drainage system are increasingly causing flood disasters in cities besides natural disasters. There are larger issues like deforestation, creation of artificial lake, construction of large dams, largescale landuse changes etc. Climate changes are expected to bring more disaster to low level countries.
Various engineering measures are generally taken up but often localised in construction of embankment, dykes, dredging of river beds etc. An integrated landuse plan with identified flood hazard area, inundation area, evacuation and rehibilitation area etc is required. Proper flood hazard maps, with baseline survey and data with the help of geographical information system are to be prepared. Legislative regulation for disaster prevention and mitigation and flood plain management in floodway and floodfringe are essential. 
Recharging ground water, retention of sediment and nutrient for good agriculture and water for wetland and fishery are positive impacts. Flood management with both structural and non structural measures will be for larger area. Public awareness campaign and citizen participation help in this. In many countries flood forecast and warning centres have been established. On the whole, an integrated and holistic plan for larger river/water basin area is needed.
Centre for Built Environment, Kolkata, India (a nonprofit society) is involved in the studies of urban drainage and flooding. Many papers have been presented and a report was prepared for International Flood Network, (IFNet), Japan. For further information : Centre for Built Environment, (supriyon@yahoo.com).
(Poster: Prof. Santosh Ghosh)
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In preparing for climate change, the role of modelling software is assuming a growing significance. Though modelling is a given when it comes to process industries such as petrochemicals and refining in Asia, there is a noticeable vacuum when it comes to water utilities. However, this indifferent state of affairs cannot continue for long.
After the torrential rains of Mumbai disrupted the city’s drainage, the city was forced to consider a disaster mitigation plan using modelling software. As climate turns more unpredictable, it will become imperative for cities to accurately map their pipelines and other assets, monitor them and prepare models in order to counter emergencies.
Flood modelling software can help operators to simulate various scenarios and take proactive steps. It will be possible to consider which streets will get flooded first, the manholes that will overflow first and plan the investments needed to prevent them. Wastewater software can be used to manage sewerage effectively.
Distribution software can allow engineers to model delivery systems and manage assets, including data for underground assets. Leakages can be dealt with and rehabilitation can be carried out systematically.
Over the years, users of modelling software are rising steadily in Asia as the benefits are becoming clearer. There is value-added in almost every sphere – capital cost savings, time savings, operational efficiency, safety and disaster preparedness.
| by Sahana Singh | 07.24 2007 02:46 | url: http://www.sahanasingh.wordpress.com |