POLICY FRAMEWORK AND GOVERNANCE CHALLENGES IN URBAN DRAINAGE MANAGEMENT OF DELHI
POLICY FRAMEWORK AND GOVERNANCE CHALLENGES IN URBAN DRAINAGE MANAGEMENT OF DELHI

Summary/Abstract: Delhi’s urban drainage management focuses on implementing a drainage master plan to address annual waterlogging, improve water management, and control encroachments. Urban drainage management is crucial for mitigating flood risks and enhancing climate resilience in rapidly developing megacities such as Delhi. The present study critically reviews the policy frameworks and governance structures that guide Delhi’s urban drainage system, with a focus on institutional measures and regulatory mechanisms. It adopts a qualitative research methodology involving a comprehensive policy content analysis and semi-structured expert interviews. The research identifies key governance challenges, including institutional fragmentation, overlapping mandates, inadequate enforcement, and limited incorporation of climate adaptation measures. The analysis reveals that, despite the existence of numerous drainage-related policies and plans, there is a lack of an integrated and coherent governance framework, resulting in ineffective implementation and unsustainable urban water management. The paper advocates for strengthening institutional coordination, enhancing policy coherence, and embedding nature-based solutions within the regulatory framework to improve the resilience and functionality of Delhi’s urban drainage infrastructure.

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