Climate resilience modeling, planning, and designing for Dehradun and Nainital : final report Dehradun climate resilient framework plan and concept design

This report has been conducted through ADB’s Technical Assistance Special Fund-other sources and the Climate Change Fund, on a grant basis. This final report describes the results for Dehradun under the Uttarakhand Integrated and Resilient Urban Development Project. The content is based on the outcomes of the design sessions by the stakeholders during the conceptualization workshops in June 2024 and the earlier results in the assessment report (November 2023). The two main deliverables in this final report are: 1. Climate Resilient Framework Plan. 2. Concept designs and prefeasibility assessment of priority adaptation measures. A finalization workshop was conducted in October 2024 to review the deliverables and feedback from local stakeholders has been incorporated in this report. Specific feedback has been incorporated under “Pathways to master planning” and “Pathways to implementation” in chapters 2 & 3 respectively. Further, high-level suggestions have been incorporated under “opportunities and way forward” in Chapter 10. Project objective and scope: The objective of the project is to support the Government of Uttarakhand in enhancing climate resilience in two cities: Dehradun and Nainital. The project is designed to contribute not only to address current problems but has the ambition to develop an approach that will enable the cities to sustainably achieve water-sensitive economic development and improve the quality of life for their people. The work included a situation assessment, identification of adaptation measures, a strategy (framework plan) and a demonstration of how the measures and strategy can be incorporated in two selected locations (case studies). For the adaptation measures the emphasis is on Nature-based Solutions (NbS). The elaboration for the two locations serves as a demonstration and is at a conceptual level. Challenges and opportunities: In Dehradun the focus is on the rejuvenation of the rivers Rispana and Bindal. The aim is to make these rivers flow with clean water all the way through the city for the whole year. There are relations with drinking water supply, storm drains, sewer drains, STPs, groundwater, solid waste, and pollution. Nature-based Solutions: Currently, grey infrastructure such as drains, culverts or constructed flood detention structures are the go-to solution to address water extremes. However, they follow a reactive approach that only address symptoms of a problem and not the cause. This is not a sustainable solution in the long term with the availability of space becoming more and more critical in urban areas while climate challenges are increasing rapidly. There is therefore a need to protect and enhance the functions of natural systems in the city to address flooding issues at its cause. In India the need to integrate Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in city planning is still growing. Although it builds on well-known approaches such as Ecosystem-based Adaptation and Water-Sensitive Planning. In urban areas, NbS are also associated with urban drainage, biodiversity improvement and greening of the urban environment. In cities such as Dehradun, NbS should be considered first. In some cases, though, issues such as space availability might limit their implementation. In that kind of situation, hybrid solutions that includes a mix of grey and green infrastructure may be more appropriate. Grey measures should only be the last resort when other measures don’t seem a feasible alternative from a technical or cost-effectiveness point of view. Climate Resilience framework plan: The Urban Framework Plan provides the basis for concept design. It is a strategy for a climate resilient Dehradun. The draft Dehradun Masterplan 2041 has the potential to result in a Blue-Green Masterplan 2041 – yet to be drawn up, considering three planning scales: (a) macro level: blue-green network of Dehradun, (b) meso-level: resilient neighborhoods, and (c) micro level: small-scale interventions. Based on the sketches by the participants in the conceptualization workshop in June 2024 the urban framework plan has been illustrated in a plan map. Main elements in the framework plan for a climate and water resilient Dehradun are: - Rejuvenation of the Rispana and Bindal rivers as backbone of the blue-green network. - Creating green belts as stepping stones. - Protect existing green pockets and expand green spaces. - Promote sponge function through increase of infiltration and rainwater harvesting. Concept design of measures in selected case study sites: To demonstrate the framework plan two concept designs were made with a pre-feasibility assessment of priority adaptation measures (NbS). For this two case study sites were selected: (1) Brahmanwala at the Bindal River, and (2) Chunna Bhatta at the Rispana River. According to the participants of the conceptualization workshops in June 2024 both sites are considered stepping stones in a potential green belt of Dehradun. A combination of adaptation measures has been identified and elaborated, including BOQ's and costing. Deltares’ Climate Resilient Cities (CRC) -tool is an example of a Climate Adaptation Support Tool (CAST) and has been used to test the measures. An example of a NbS combination is the sequence of a drain outlet, detention basin and reed bed/ bioswale. Lessons learnt: From working on the project simultaneously in Dehradun and Nainital, we can bundle the experiences and lessons learned from this period. Hopefully this will feed the dialogue and cooperation in developing, designing and implementing measures to enhance climate resilience and water sensitivity. The lessons include: 1. Integrating ecosystem-based approach within urban planning. Both cities must consider developing a Water Management Strategy. Which aim is to deliver a new approach and solutions (e.g. city as a sponge) in urban water management and spatial planning, to create a more water resilient Dehradun. Following best practices from other cities in India like Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Kochi, Kolkata, Udaipur, where Water-Sensitive Planning (WSP) is already being practiced. 2. Mainstreaming climate change action. Climate change action should be driven by increased local monitoring, data collection and awareness building. 3. Designing community-inclusive solutions. The implementation of Nature-based Solutions within these sites requires the involvement and participation of local communities, landowners and beneficiaries. 4. Creating and increasing local ownership. For cities to become resilient to climate change and water extremes, a strong commitment and ownership from the local counterpart is required to ensure implementation. There is a need for a high-level official to act as a champion for the project with enough convening power to bring all relevant actors around the table. Recommendations: 1. Climate and community sensitive River-oriented development. Rivers and water ways to be used as the framework for Urban resilience, i.e. blue green network, such as green belt. 2. Resilient urban development. City expansion to ensure that climate resilience measures are incorporated, limit soil sealing, promote rainwater harvesting (RWH) 3. Valuing water as a resource. Decoupling rainwater and sewage. Prevent faulty connections. Connecting sewers to STPs. Reducing water consumption. Opportunities and the way forward 1. Promote NbS in Dehradun planning week. Engage city departments (engineers and planners) and high-level decision makers to develop neighborhood plans and measures. 2. Use the assessment and framework plan as input for zoning maps. 3. Use the framework plan and the concept designs as the departure point for further integrated planning and design of NbS interventions to increase climate resilience. 4. Involve from the start all relevant actors in further urban planning and design of interventions. 5. Find a city champion for the further planning, design and implementation of NbS interventions. 6. Prototype NbS strategies for similar cities and towns in Uttarakhand and across India.