Presenter
Mr. Saman Jain, CEPT University
Co-author(s)
Dr. Saswat Bandyopadhyay, CEPT University
Sub-theme
1. Water-Human-Economy(Agriculture, Industry, City...)-Ecology Nexus under a Changing Environment
Topic
1-3. Balanced and coordinated development of water-economy-ecology system
Body
The aim of the research revolves around the idea of how during the rapid urbanization and development of Chennai, the city has consumed not only land but also its key water resources, this situation is exacerbated as the city faces extreme climate change-induced events, with drought and floods alternating each year. The city currently exploring the idea of further expansion lies at the junction of water vs development, attempting to choose a path, this research aims to provide a sustainable approach. The city has lost the majority area of its catchment zones to urbanization, and hence in the period of low rainfall, the city experiences an extreme lack of water, relying on emergency measures such as hauling water through trains. While on the other side, during high rainfall periods, the city gets extremely inundated, even losing its airport to urban flooding. Further to this, Chennai has been historically over-dependent on groundwater as its source of public and private water supply, and hence ground water levels lie at their lowest ever, historically. These factors threaten not only the ecology of the city but also the sustenance of the people and the development of its economy. An understanding of the situation is developed through this research as Chennai finds itself in a situation where it is flooded yet parched, and climate change poses to only magnify the case. The approach focuses on a primary literature review to feed into an on-ground survey, understanding the severity of the case and its local possible resolutions, promoting participatory planning. Further, key case situations are studied on the ground and prospective solutions are provided with inputs from experienced personnel and the common citizen of the city. From this research, a sustainable approach is required where natural water resources are conserved to promote the existence of ecology and sustenance of the city's water needs while managing to develop Chennai as the economic engine of South India. This requires mapping the existing natural water resources such as catchment zones, lakes, rivers, aquifers, and others, to classify their current risk situation with respect to reducing water holding capacity. This is to be aided by strict measures to control development along water bodies such as lakes and rivers and further reversing development in key areas to prevent deterioration of the ecosystem further. Liberalization of urban planning with strategic government oversight regulatory methods is required to sustainably continue the water-development-ecology system.