Does urbanisation cause floods?
By Kitkupar Shangpliang, World Vision India Communications Coordinator In India, this year’s floods are the worst in decades, claiming the lives of 1200 people, injuring thousands and forcing a staggering 20 million out of their homes. Why? Some point fingers at climate change – neglecting the fact that India’s rapid urbanization might have contributed more to the recent flooding. According to the report of the UN Population Fund, by 2030, over 40 percent (about 600 million) of India’s population will be living in urban and semi-urban areas compared to about 28 percent (about 336 million) now. Twenty years ago the Indian urban population stood at 23 percent (about 230 million), a climb of 5 percent or 106 million people in 20 years time. Over the years, the affluent urban population needed protection from floods, therefore, embankments were built to protect towns and cities. The floodwaters that eclipsed villages situated along the big towns of Darbhanga in Bihar, Barabanki in Uttar Pr
