Sajida A Zubair
DUBBED the Silicon Valley of India, Bengaluru, today finds itself in the midst of a persistent crisis of flooding which has worsened lately. It is imperative to probe deep into the reason behind floods within the city and to understand how well-defined trends in rainfalls, infrastructure issues, and ecological mismanagement have led to the increasing necessity of adopting a sustainable approach toward urban strategy so that floods are brought under control in the future. Heavy downpours led not only to huge floods but also to discussions about the infrastructure and urban designs that exist in the city.
Bengaluru received exceptional rains in the September and October period. In certain places, more than 66 mm of rainfall was observed within a 24-hour span. That was extreme because earlier, in September 2022, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had reported an average of 146 mm of rain on a particular day. Karnataka city’s average annual rainfall now ranges from 900 mm to 1,200 mm, driven by cyclonic circulations over interior Karnataka, which have intensified these precipitation events (Environmental Management and Policy Research Institute [EMPRI], 2023).
Infrastructural inadequacies can exacerbate the perennial flooding situation in Bengaluru. It is believed that more than 40% of the drainage, which carries the rainwater, in the city is either choked or constructed poorly. From all the studies conducted, it has been found that efficient drainage system connections exist only over about 300 km. The tempo of urbanisation in tech cities such as Whitefield, Bellandur, and Sarjapur is way ahead of infrastructure development. Certain places, such as Outer Ring Road and Manyata Tech Park, for instance, have experienced the wrath of waterlogging, which has disorganised both social and commercial activities. Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, or BBMP, is demolishing the encroachments to remove those ill-fated structures, but the approach remains more reactive rather than proactive.
Some of the huge technology parks like Manyata Tech Park and Whitefield faced critical operational challenges due to this reason. Many companies are moving back to work-from-home shifts during severe climatic events. Such devastation is evident in the form of polluted lakes in areas like Bellandur and Varthur. It was only last month that authorities proclaimed they had managed to reclaim a part of the encroached lakes, but most of the illegal constructions are still there, and it seems impossible to achieve effective flood mitigation.
Large-scale encroachment on lakes and natural water bodies is also one of the critical factors behind Bengaluru flooding. With more than 1,200 lakes in the 1960s, the city now counts only 700. According to estimates, there have been cases where 1,500 acres of lake land have been filled in or turned into real estate. This significantly reduces the area’s capacity for natural drainage (EMPRI, 2023). Coupled with this, river beds, wetlands, and stormwater drains have been transformed into commercial and residential areas; hence, the city’s ability to contain heavy rainfall has been reduced with few adherences to environmental norms during clearance processes for development projects.
Due to the flooding in any place normal lives are impacted not just socially but also financially. When businesses are closed or their operations are interrupted, the expenses can reach millions, particularly in locations that have been designated as frequently flooding or during festive seasons.
Bengaluru’s flooding saga is a perfect example of the complexity of rapid urbanization, climate change, and ecological neglect. Experts say freakish weather conditions and their increasing frequency are a direct outcome of climate change, augmented by the city turning from an area of numerous lakes to entirely concrete structures. At such a time, there is an urgent need for an integrated and sustainable urban strategy concentrating on the rejuvenation and development of natural water bodies, drainage infrastructure, and strict regulations against illegal encroachment. The Bengaluru clogging must be taken as a lesson in how urban planning that is so unscientific, especially feeding on altered climatic conditions, can easily become a recipe for flooding disaster.
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The author is an educator, mental well-being counsellor, faculty member at IPERC, and scriptwriter. She brings her passion for nurturing minds and fostering emotional resilience through her diverse roles.
