According to research undertaken by a team of geospatial engineers at anna university, just 3% of chennai city that is under the Greater chennai Corporation (GCC), which is reeling from the effects of Cyclone Michaung, is safe or at minimal danger of flooding.

"Around 30% of the GCC falls under the high-risk category for flooding, and around 67 percent falls under the moderate risk zone," according to the research titled Nature Based Solution (NBS) as a Flood Mitigation Measure for Chennai. Mohammed Faizan, a geospatial engineer, and his colleagues at anna university carried out the research. The report attributed the flooding to increased urbanization, changes in land use, and inadequate drainage infrastructure.

Faizan told india Herald that the GCC region was chosen for the study because of its growing urbanization and rising flood levels. Elevation, slope, flow accumulation, drainage density, topographic wetness index, soil type, yearly rainfall, and land use land cover (LULC) were all employed in the study.

"From green coverage, certain areas have seen rapid progression to urbanization, demonstrating the change in land use and land cover." This exacerbated floods. Furthermore, we discovered that the drainage network was ineffective in places along river beds, which are predominantly slums with inadequate infrastructure for low-lying areas.' Faizan elaborated.

He stated that during the previous 20 years, up to 2020, chennai has experienced a rise in a built-up area (64.39%) and a decline in forest land (51.6%) and agricultural land (40.91%). According to Faizan, considerable LULC can be attributable to socioeconomic factors such as population growth, governmental decisions relating to a quickly rising economy and reforestation, and physiological traits.

Infographic:

High risk areas: Mambalam, Kodambakkam, Adyar Nungambakkam, Meenambakkam, Velachery and Pallikaranai

Moderate risk areas: Chintadripet, Micro Colony, Besant Theosophical Society

Low-risk areas: Ambattur, Bhakthavatchalam Nagar, areas Near Agurchand Manmull Jain College, Chennai.
For more interesting updates wa click and follow Indiaherald WhatsApp channel

Find out more:

Chennai Floods

SIBY JEYYA

06/12/2023 07:46 AM