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Urban Commons Degradation and Flooding: Case Studies of Kashmir and Chennai

1. Kashmir Floods (2014): A Case of Urban Flooding

Causes:

  • Extreme Rainfall Event:
    • Received 156.7 mm of rainfall on September 5 (compared to an average monthly rainfall of 56.4 mm).
    • One-week rainfall was over 500 mm, a 10-year high.
  • Failure of Drainage Infrastructure:
    • The Jhelum River and its flood channel (an artificial outlet from 1904) overflowed.
    • Flood control bunds were washed away, and bridges collapsed.
  • Loss of Natural Buffers:
    • Shrinking Wetlands: Lake area was reduced to 1/10th of its original size (from 7,500 hectares in 1911).
    • Loss of Depth: Dal Lake lost 12 meters of depth.
  • Encroachment and Blockages: Drainage channels were blocked, and links between lakes were cut due to unplanned urbanization.

Impacts:

  • Srinagar was submerged under 2 meters of water.
  • Agricultural land was inundated, and landslides disrupted highways and power lines.

2. Chennai Poromboke Song: Degradation of Urban Commons

What is Poromboke?

  • A traditional Tamil term for common land (non-private, meant for public use: water bodies, grazing grounds, etc.).
  • The term became derogatory (“worthless”) over time; the song aims to reclaim its ecological significance.

Degradation Examples:

  • Ennore Creek:
    • Encroached by thermal pipelines, ports, and fly ash dumps.
    • Water flow was blocked, pollution increased, and fishing grounds were destroyed.
  • Pallikaranai Marsh:
    • Reduced from 50 sq. km to fragments due to real estate, waste dumping, and government buildings.
    • Once a flood sink, it is now surrounded by roads and drains.

Role of Art and Advocacy:

  • Carnatic vocalist T.M. Krishna’s Poromboke Song blends classical music with environmental protest.
  • Highlights:
    • Misuse of wetland ecosystems.
    • Erasure of community rights.
    • Need for community-led stewardship.

3. Common Underlying Issues

Issue Kashmir Floods Chennai Commons
Loss of Wetlands Lake area reduced to 1/10th Pallikaranai Marsh reduced dramatically
Encroachment Unplanned urbanization Industrial expansion, real estate
Drainage Failure Natural channels blocked Creek waterways blocked
Governance Failure Poor urban planning Weak environmental governance

Shared Consequences:

  • Increased urban flooding.
  • Loss of biodiversity and livelihoods (e.g., fishing).
  • Health hazards from waterlogging and pollution.

4. Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) for Sustainable Urban Management

  • Rainwater Harvesting: Capturing runoff to recharge groundwater.
  • Urban Forestry & Green Spaces: Enhancing water absorption.
  • Wetland Restoration: Rehabilitating natural water buffers.
  • Permeable Surfaces: Using them in roads/pavements to reduce runoff.
  • Green Roofs/Walls: Absorbing rainwater and reducing heat islands.
  • Policy Integration: For example, the Mumbai Climate Action Plan includes urban greening and lake rejuvenation.

Exam Tip 📝

Focus on understanding how the degradation of urban commons (wetlands, lakes) exacerbates flooding, using Kashmir and Chennai as key examples. Remember specific data (e.g., Kashmir’s rainfall stats, wetland shrinkage). Be prepared to discuss causes (encroachment, poor planning), impacts (flooding, livelihood loss), and solutions (nature-based strategies like wetland restoration and rainwater harvesting). Link these cases to broader themes of common-pool resource management and governance failure.

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