Flood-prone Cities & Urban Disaster Governance

Urban flooding has emerged as one of India’s most frequent and costly climate-induced disasters. Cities such as Mumbai, Chennai and Bengaluru, once considered economic powerhouses, now represent the urban face of India’s climate vulnerability. Inadequate drainage, encroachments on wetlands, and unplanned urbanization have outpaced governance capacity, turning heavy rainfall into full-blown disasters. Therefore, urban disaster governance is now central to building resilient cities.

What is Urban Disaster Governance?

• It refers to the institutional and planning framework through which cities manage disaster risks.
• Goes beyond emergency response to include urban design, zoning, infrastructure resilience, and community preparedness.
• Integrates climate adaptation, environmental management, and ....