Urban flooding in Bhubaneswar (file picture)

Bhubaneswar, Nov. 15: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and its associated agencies will follow a 12-point strategy to tackle climate change related problems that have been aggravated because of rapid urbanisation.

The strategy was suggested by state minister for environment and forests Debi Prasad Mishra today while inaugurating a two-day regional training programme called “Climate change and adaptation for Indian cities”. The event was jointly organised by the corporation and International Centre for Local Environmental Initiative (Iclei).

The minister suggested that the capital’s administration (both the civic and planning bodies) should focus on better water supply and sewerage design, water efficiency, solid waste management, energy-efficient street lighting, solar energy conservation, climate resilient master plan, water harvesting structures to recharge groundwater, rooftop water harvesting, avenue plantation, use of compressed natural gas (CNG), better management of water channels and water bodies and capacity building by taking the help of experts.

Apart from environmental concerns, health problems such as mosquito menace are increasing in the city with rise in temperature because of depleting green cover.

“If the water channels and bodies are not kept clean, it could affect more and more people, mainly people belonging to the economically weaker sections, in the city,’’ Mishra said.

Municipal commissioner Vishal Kumar Dev said that delayed and erratic monsoon and cloudburst-like situation, resulting from climate change, often caused urban flooding. However, rapid and unplanned urbanisation is also to be blamed for urban flooding as encroachment on natural drainage channels has caused artificial flood and waterlogging in areas such as Acharya Vihar on natural drainage channel No. 4.

“The civic body has already started implementing many such strategies, which include better solid waste management, energy efficient street lighting, solar energy conservation, plantation programmes and better management of water channels and water bodies. However, urban planning should be addressed by a unitary authority for better execution,’’ Dev said.