Key Highlights of the Report
- Prepared by: World Bank in collaboration with Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
- Title: Towards Resilient and Prosperous Cities in India.
- Main Forecasts:
- By 2050, India’s urban population to reach 951 million.
- By 2030, cities to generate 70% of all new employment.
- Estimated investment needed: $2.4 trillion by 2050 to make cities climate-resilient.
- If cities don’t adapt, annual flood-related losses may reach:
- $5 billion by 2030
- $30 billion by 2050
Relevance : GS 1(Society ) , GS 2(Social Issues)
Urban Resilience Challenges
1. Rising Urban Climate Risks
- Urban India faces two major shocks:
- Flooding
- Extreme heat
- Study of 10 major Indian cities (1983–2016) shows:
- 71% increase in dangerous heat events.
- Urban Heat Island Effect: Cities get hotter at night due to concrete and asphalt trapping heat.
2. Concrete Urbanization Worsens Flooding
- Increased construction limits rainwater absorption.
- Cities growing in flood-prone areas without risk adaptation.
- Heat-related deaths may exceed 3 lakh per year by 2050 if unaddressed.
Governance & 74th Constitutional Amendment Issues
- 74th Amendment (1992): Provided autonomy to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
- Problem: Many states have not fully implemented it.
- Cities with greater decision-making autonomy have:
- Mobilized more resources.
- Monetized assets better.
- Shown higher accountability.
- World Bank recommends devolution of power to local governments for better urban resilience.
Key Recommendations from the Report
- National & State-Level Reforms:
- Improve risk assessments.
- Mobilize private investments.
- Set urban resilience standards.
- Create a financing roadmap.
- Local Interventions:
- Urban greening, cool roofs, early/late work shifts to beat heat.
- Resilient infrastructure, particularly in high-risk flood zones.
- Financial Needs:
- $150 billion needed for flood resilience in next 15 years alone.
Policy Implications for India
- Cities are economic growth engines but increasingly vulnerable.
- Climate adaptation must be mainstreamed in urban planning, especially in Tier-1 and Tier-2 cities.
- Implementation of the 74th Amendment is key to empower cities.
- Urban resilience needs to be viewed as an investment, not a cost.
