Planning solutions to reduce flood vulnerability of Lowincome settlements: a case study of riverbed settlements in Ahmedabad, India | |
| Author | Mehta, Supriya Prabhu |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no. HS-00-05 |
| Subject(s) | Floodplain management--India--Ahmedabad Public housing--India--Ahmedabad |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. HS-00-05 |
| Abstract | The thesis attempts to find planning solutions to reduce flood vulnerability of people living in low-income settlements, in flood prone areas in Ahmedabad. The low-income people are the most vulnerable to any type of disaster. The losses they incur may be catastrophic to them, considering their limited resources. However, the benefits of squatting in this marginal land in Ahmedabad, vulnerable to floods are high, in terms of proximity to work and meager investment in housing. These benefits are higher than the costs that people often incur everytime their houses are flooded. People have worked out a system over the years to minimize the costs and maximize the benefits. Benefits are maximized through investment in movable assets, usually livestock, which assist their livelihood. Costs are minimized by using the cheapest, mostly second hand building material, which may be purchased from the money received from the government as compensation. The walls are kept permeable so that the floodwaters pass through the house, instead of dragging the house with them. The flooring is made with a durable material, so that the occupied area can be claimed back even after the house has been swept away with the floods . There is hardly any investment in goods that might be difficult to transport at short notice in the event of floods. The warning system over the years has been well worked out in a way that there is no loss of life or livestock. The other aspect of the development of this land along the river Sabarmati is that the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation is developing a Riverfront Development Project. This project involves development of the 9krn stretch of the river Sabarmati that lies within Ahmedabad Municipal limits. Under this, the river would be cut in depth and filled along the sides to make it a uniform width, with land reclaimed on either side that would be developed for commercial purposes. Under the circumstances, the following scenarios may emerge for the low-income settlement dwellers: • If the project is implemented (the people would be resettled elsewhere) • If the project is implemented (short term or long term measures to reduce flood vulnerability of the people would have to be proposed) For each case, structural and non-structural measures would be required, with the advantages and 'probable ' disadvantages of each. There would be emphasis on asset management of the people and upgrading. People tend to expect a lot from the government if some intervention is taking place. It is therefore imperative that whatever measures are taken, the settlement dwellers are well informed about the exact limitations of each intervention. |
| Year | 2000 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. HS-00-05 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Human Settlement (HS) |
| Chairperson(s) | Watanabe, Seisuke; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Sheng, Yap Kioe;Kammeier, H. Detlef;Moga, Jerome; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Government of India; |
| Degree | Thesis (M. Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2000 |