Impact of Urban Floods on Slum Redevelopment Case of Bhopal

Abstract

The urban poor especially living in slums depend upon the informal sector for their livelihood as they have limited access to formal occupations which compels them to locate into locations which are dangerous and vulnerable to natural disasters. These areas are often near water bodies, marshy lands and low lying areas.It is a proven fact that urban poor is more vulnerable to storm and floods which affect their living badly. Urban floods will also bring other stresses like reduction in fresh water availability, ground water contamination and water borne diseases. Which indirectly creates pressure on government bodies. These factor of occupying vulnerable zone prone to natural disaster poses challenge for rehabilitation of slums. How to prepare these slums for disaster, what are the precautionary measures and how disasters can be avoided is the challenge before planners. The present paper aims at urban floods occurring in slum areas which can affect the life of urban poor and cause loss of lives and property.

Keywords: Urban Poor, Slum Rehabilitation, Settlements, Urban floods, Natural disaster