The City Development Plan of Indore states that “increasing population pressure is resulting in deterioration of infrastructure facilities, loss of productive agricultural lands, green open spaces, loss of surface water bodies, depletion of groundwater aquifer zones, air pollution, water contamination, health hazards and many micro-climatic changes.” The main objective of this TARU Leading Edge project is “Ensuring availability of local water resources during emergencies.” This would be achieved by developing replicable model for peri-urban lake rejuvenation and conservation.

The City Development Plan of Indore states that “increasing population pressure is resulting in deterioration of infrastructure facilities, loss of productive agricultural lands, green open spaces, loss of surface water bodies, depletion of groundwater aquifer zones, air pollution, water contamination, health hazards and many micro-climatic changes.” The main objective of this TARU Leading Edge project is “Ensuring availability of local water resources during emergencies.” This would be achieved by developing replicable model for peri-urban lake rejuvenation and conservation.

The City of Surat is one of the most prosperous (also known as Diamond City) city in India.Surat has been facing floods since formation of the city. Even after the building of the Ukai dam, the floods continued to damage the city. Due to rapid growth and expansion of the city, the flood damages are increasing especially since the last two decades, with the frequency of floods staying at least once in four years. In 2006 extreme floods (due to emergency release from Ukai dam) inundated 75% area of the city.

This publication is the result of research conducted as a part of the Himalayan Climate Change Adaptation Programme (HICAP). It explores the governance of flood mitigation infrastructure in parts of India and Nepal. It also covers the traditional coping and adaptation strategies of local communities to deal with floods, which are being increasingly challenged due to the changing nature of floods and other water hazards attributed largely to climate change. Floods are the most common water-induced hazard in the Hindu Kush.