UPSC Mains 2020 GS1 Q15 — Urban Flooding
Account for the huge flooding of million cities in India including the smart ones like Hyderabad and Pune. Suggest lasting remedial measures. (Answer in 250 words)
Question Decoded — examiner's intent
- Directive verbs
- Account forSuggest
- Scope keywords
- huge floodingmillion citiessmart onesHyderabad and Punelasting remedial measures
- Implicit sub-parts
- Analysis of why 'Smart City' infrastructure failed to prevent urban deluges.
- The role of local topographical changes and illegal encroachments on natural drainage (nullahs/wetlands).
- Assessment of the 'Heat Island Effect' and localized extreme weather events in urban micro-climates.
- Institutional failures in urban planning versus just 'natural' disasters.
- Common pitfalls
- Treating it as a generic 'Climate Change' essay without focusing on the specific spatial planning of Hyderabad or Pune.
- Ignoring the 'Smart City' aspect mentioned in the prompt; failing to critique why technology didn't solve the drainage issue.
- Providing only short-term engineering fixes (pumps, cleaning drains) instead of 'lasting' structural and policy measures.
- Failing to mention the 'Million Cities' demographic pressure and the consequent concretization (impervious surfaces).
- Dimensions required
- Hydrological/TopographicalAdministrative/GovernanceTechnological/InfrastructureEnvironmental/EcologicalLegislative/Regulatory
- Marks allocation hint
Allocate 100 words to 'Accounting' for the causes, specifically linking topography and unplanned expansion in Pune/Hyderabad. Dedicate 120 words to 'Lasting Remedial Measures' covering Sponge City concepts and blue-green infrastructure. Use the remaining 30 words for a forward-looking conclusion on climate-resilient urbanism.
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