Responsibility of the ruling administration and the people in rainwater disposal problems

- People-oriented guidance: H.S. Patel IAS (Retd.)

- Unauthorized constructions, obstructions, unauthorized slums in the natural rainwater disposal have hampered the flow of water.

- Long term planning is required for rainwater disposal

Given the media and public outcry over the drainage issues that have arisen due to the recent rains caused by the recent 'Taute' hurricane and the unseasonal rains before the regular monsoons, the public and the administration will also take up the issue of rainwater harvesting. I am presenting what is responsible. First of all, the monsoon season is estimated by the Meteorological Department from May to September according to the Indian cyclone. The effects of Climate Change have been causing irregularities in the rainy season for some time. Rainwater is generally considered to be a natural course - a natural course that usually flows through a sloping area and into the sea except for ditches, ravines, rivers and finally the rivers of North India. Thus the process of development i.e. industrialization and urbanization is responsible for the obstacles that have arisen in this process, which in short, unplanned growth is responsible for unplanned development. Unauthorized construction and barriers to natural flow have been the only reason for urbanization. Now if we look at why this question has not been taken as a priority, then the basic facilities to be provided to the citizens, including Gram Panchayat, Nagarpalika or Mahanagarpalika, water, sewerage and roads are essential services and when even these basic facilities cannot be provided to the citizens as expected. However, due to unplanned development and construction, there is not much research or planning in stormwater disposal. Often those in power feel that the question of water supply is short-lived and short-lived, but neither the rulers nor the administration have a long-term view that rainwater harvesting will disrupt public life and cause economic losses. As well as how many days public life in the big cities is disrupted so that all economic, educational, productive activities are shut down.

In order to experience and illustrate, the natural drainage of rainwater in the past has been hampered by unauthorized constructions, obstructions, unauthorized slums. Take Vadodara as an example. Sir Sayajirao developed Vadodara as a planned city even during the monarchy and Vishwamitri river flows through the center of Vadodara city. In addition, Ruparel Kansa passes through the east, Masiha Kansa through the middle and Bhukhi Kansa through the north. When the water overflows after all the lakes are filled, the water flows into Vishwamitri through the almond orchard through the open channel through the palace compound. Thus an ideal system was rainwater disposal and rainwater harvesting. Currently there are constructions around Ruparel, Messiah and Bhukhikans and there is no carrying capacity as expected. Another change for Vadodara is that the water that used to pass through the city on the National Highway now flows into the city from the Nimeta intersection into the Jambuwa river, just as the water that flows through the Narmada canal into the Mini Mahisagar now flows into the city. Thus, in carrying out all these projects, due to the lack of natural water disposal system, there is a problem of filling water from heavy rains in Vadodara. Similarly, if we talk about Surat, Tapi river passes through the center of the city Due to non-existence of banking ridge on Tapi shore, water enters Adajan Rander as well as pressure on the creeks. In this way Sabarmati passes through the middle of Ahmedabad, but the natural flow of the city of Ahmedabad coming to Sabarmati rather than the river bank is obstructed. This is how the river Aji passes through Rajkot. There are slums on the banks of this river and the curves through which water was discharged have undergone pressure and unauthorized constructions. Thus due to increasing urbanization and unplanned construction and lack of proper planning the natural rainwater was drained and stored which kept the Water Table high. Instead, water disposal issues arise during the rainy season and civilians suffer in the monsoons. In addition to this, the pattern of monsoon has also changed from the previous average rainfall of 50 or 100 years ago to certain places or areas, but instead of cloud bursting (cloud burst) exceptional rainfall. E.g. If 20 inches of rain falls simultaneously in Amreli district, Vav of Banaskantha Palanpur, if 15 inches of rain falls simultaneously in Tharad, then there is no capacity for river drainage or natural flow of the area or it does not have storage capacity, so there are problems of water filling or disposal. The area is flooded for months due to heavy rains. Thus, urbanization has changed the process of development as well as the cycle of rainfall due to Climate Change. Thus the question of storm water disposal arose. But in the next issue we will describe what is the responsibility of the rulers / administration regarding rainwater disposal, what are the legal provisions and what kind of planning and what is the responsibility of the people. (In order)