Delhi is among the other 26 Indian cities that could face a very high water risk in the upcoming few decades according to the Worldwide Fund for Nature’s Water Risk Filter released on Monday.
According to the WWF, new water risk will affect millions of people in cities across the globe could face dramatically increased water risks – unless urgent action is taken to mitigate and submit to climate alteration.
Sejal Worah, Programme Director, WWF India, said that the future of India’s environment depends upon its cities. As India shortly urbanizes, cities will be at the lead both for India’s growth and for sustainability. For cities to break away from the current violent loop of flooding and water scarcity, nature-based solutions like restoration of urban watersheds and wetlands could offer solutions. We still have a chance to alter the drastic future of these cities.
According to the outlines in the WWF Water Risk Filter, 100 cities that are expected to undergo the greatest rise in water risk by the year 2050 are where at least 350 million people as well as nationally and globally crucial economies. Populations in areas of high-water risk could surge from 17% in 2020 to 51% by 2050. China accounts for nearly half of the cities at high water risk. Beijing, Jakarta, Johannesburg, Istanbul, Hong Kong, Mecca, and Rio de Janeiro are also on the list.
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WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY: “NATURE IS SENDING US CLEAR INDICATIONS”, UN CHIEF SPEAKS
Shashank Shekhar, assistant professor, department of geology, Delhi University said that Indian cities are at very great water risk. The landscape planning includes high rises and industries but there is no holistic technique or planning. Also, Ecological aspects are not properly evaluated during city planning. So the water catchments and flow lines shift due to urbanization. There is a very vulnerable equilibrium that has to be strengthened. This is true for new cities that are coming up with a little strategy.
