Project Name:
Nature Based Solutions
Client:
Rajkot Municipal Corporation and USAID (funding)
Year:
2024
Project Area:
104 sq.km
This project, individually authored as a proactive solution for Rajkot, reframes storm water from a hazard into a vital civic resource. It translates flood vulnerability into opportunity by institutionalizing rainwater harvesting within Rajkot’s urban systems. A novel ‘City Sponginess’ framework was developed to quantify urban water absorption potential.
This data-driven diagnosis informed a comprehensive strategy, encompassing multi-level policy, hydrogeological zoning, a financially viable pilot project, and a long-term risk mitigation roadmap to ensure the city’s sustainable transformation into a water-sensitive sponge city.
The strategies span regulatory reforms, public-private investments, and community engagement, embedding resilience into both infrastructure and governance while mitigating risks through sustainable long-term operations.
A methodology was designed to quantify sponge capacity and efficiency across blue, green, white, and grey systems. The study identified Rajkot's core paradox: a city facing both acute water scarcity and high flood risk. In Rajkot, white sponge potential emerged as the most scalable intervention space under rapid urbanization and hence this diagnostic established the urgent need for a strategy to harness irregular rainfall as a city-wide resource.
Proposals flags the urgent need for national SLB revisions, which currently employs only 2 benchmarks to quantify the city's efficiency in Storm water management. This comprehensive governance roadmap proposes embeds accountability across multi-scalar governance for effective institutionalization of rainwater harvesting.
Translating complex subsurface data into an actionable plan, this hydrogeological zoning map was created to guide resource allocation. Geomorphological and geological overlays identified recharge potential across 18 wards. It prioritizes interventions in zones with the most critical need and highest potential for impact.
Moving from strategy to implementation, a financially viable ‘Rain Garden’ pilot project was designed, drawing inspiration from case city of Hyderabad. A 4.1-acre pilot site was proposed with live RWH exhibits, gaming arenas, and community amenities. Designed under a PPP model, it demonstrated fiscal viability with an IRR of 19% within 1.5 years.
Anticipating real-world challenges, and Operational risks this roadmap was developed to ensure long-term sustainability. It mitigates operational risks through scheduled monitoring, mandatory certification, and robust community engagement, securing the initiative's lasting success. This ensures Rajkot’s transition into a sustainable white sponge city.
