UNDERWATER - Rain Exposes the Reality of Metro Cities

Last weeks torrential rains exposed the reality of metro cities in India. While last year's Chennai floods is still fresh in the minds of the people, last week's rains saw parts of Bangalore, Gurgaon and Mumbai inundated. The water logging affected normal life, threw traffic out of gear and created heavy lock jams on roads that saw people harassed and tormented. Rain literally played spoilsport for millions.

Gurgaon

Traffic jam on the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway after heavy rain (Photo credits: Indian Express)

Mumbai

Bangalore

Hosur Road in Bangalore after rains (Photo Credits: Prof. Ray Titus)

Very clearly poor town planning, poor drainage systems, unscientifically made roads, poor road conditions (that are often ridden with potholes) and utter neglect/apathy of the municipal corporations and government bodies are to be blamed. Citizen's ignorance towards such issues till it hits them hard cannot be ignored as well. So we must also blame ourselves for the state that we are in.

But all in all, we have a raw deal in hand and our metro cities are crumbling in the face of even couple of days of heavy rain.

It is really funny that at a time when water seems scarce and we are fighting for the same, the rain water is allowed to create havoc but never scientifically harvested to solve water crisis in big cities.

Engagement is a two sided story always. Government and local bodies engagement with citizens and vice versa is key to resurrecting civic issues. The time is now to make a change, else we may soon see a repeat of Chennai in other major metros as well.

Government agencies need to wake up before 'water gets over our head'.