Smart Governance
Infra Concern
At the city level, the authorities should ensure that the building bylaws are followed both in spirit and practice at the ground level. People should also cooperate with municipal authorities.
Q. Talking about the extent of damage, what is the ratio between the investment needed to avoid an urban flood and the actual cost of damage incurred because there was no investment?
A. The amount of investment is generally a fraction of the total damages. International studies have shown that the investment needed, in terms of following building by-laws, constructing proper infrastructure, establishing and enforcing mitigation measures, is only about seven per cent of the total cost of damage that would have occurred if the above measures were not put in place. In that sense, it is prudent to invest in preventive and mitigation measures rather than incurring huge damages afterwards.
Q. What should affected people do immediately after they receive a flood warning?
A. Affected people should immediately evacuate to an identified evacuation centre. Or if such a centre does not exist, they should go to their neighbours staying in higher levels. They should take their important things such as documents and valuables in a water-proof bag, which they should have packed beforehand.
Q. What important preparations can people living in risk-prone urban centres make in advance to tackle an urban flood?
A. People living on ground floors should take simple measures such as installing the gas connection, water heater, and electric panels high above the ground to brace themselves against flooding incidents. They should also put check valves in
sewer traps to prevent floodwater from backing up into the drain. They should also seal the walls in their basements to avoid seepage.
Q. What precautions should one take after the flood water recedes?
A. After the flood water recedes, the threat of epidemics such as malaria, chikungunya and dengue spread by mosquitoes, and leptospirosis caused due to mixing of rat’ s urine with water looms large. Water should not be allowed to stagnate to prevent breeding of mosquitoes. People should consume packaged drinking water or boiled water, if possible, to prevent water-borne diseases and gastroenteritis.
Q. Is it possible to forecast an
imminent urban flood? Please explain the equipment and methodology involved.
A. With the currently available instrumentation, technology and information, it is quite easy to forecast an urban flood and issue early warnings over the internet. For example, the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai has installed 60 automatic weather stations for recording the rainfall every 15 minutes. This information
November 2016 22 www.