Do you think Indian cities must become 'sponge cities'?.
- Sponge cities are urban areas with abundant natural areas such as trees, lakes and parks – or other good designs intended to absorb rain and prevent flooding.
- Reduces urban heat island effect and improve ecological environment and biodiversity.
- It absorbs and captures rain water and utilizes it to reduce floods.
- Rain water harvested can be reused for irrigation and home use.
- Requirements for sponge city-
- Bioswales are channels designed to allow passage for stormwater runoff while removing debris and pollution.
- Continuous open green spaces, interconnected waterways, channels and ponds across different regions.
- Green roofs that can retain rainwater and naturally filters it before being recycled or released into the ground.
- Construction of bio-swales and bio-retention systems, porous roads and pavements, drainage systems to allow passing water into ground.
In India, there is a need of Sponge cities because,
- Urban flooding has become recurring phenomenon in Indian metros.
- India’s Land policy has not been effective in managing or controlling the recurrence of major floods in urban areas.
- Urban cities lack proper drainage network.
- Concrete structures in urban cities are causing water wastage.
Sponge Cities Mission can be delivered along with:
- AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation).
- HRIDAY (National Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojna)
- Smart Cities Mission
Some advantages of Sponge Cities Mission in India are as follows:
- Every inch of rainwater can be captured, absorbed, and reused.
- Urban farms and gardens can be recharged with the help of rainwater.
- Water saved by sponge cities can replace drinking water.
- Open green spaces and interconnected waterways can be developed in urban areas.
- Waterways, channels, and ponds across a sponge city can automatically absorb rainwater. The Sponge Cities Mission in India will eliminate floods in urban areas.
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