3.2. Identifying the need for actionable plans

Another one is that before the flood, it was a house and it was like that, then the local government started to elevate the road okay simply elevated the road year after year. But as a result what happened they can see that it makes the houses more vulnerable water can easily come to house and it is really risky for them.

This chunk discusses how elevating the road by the local government, while intended to improve infrastructure, unintentionally made nearby houses more vulnerable to flooding. When the road is elevated, it can change the natural flow of water, leading to increased risks for homes in the vicinity.

Imagine a neighborhood where a highway is built that is much higher than the surrounding houses. When it rains heavily, the water can pool near the houses instead of flowing away, much like how the elevated road has affected the houses. This shows that sometimes, attempting to fix one problem can create new challenges.

There is also an encroachment by on Mithi river some people are encroaching, this is a Mithi river you can see that new constructions arouse. So municipal authority actually demolished these places recently, but again new constructions are coming.

This part highlights the issue of encroachment along the Mithi River. People are building structures in areas that could be prone to flooding. Even though local authorities have taken action to demolish some of these encroachments, new constructions continue to appear, indicating a persistent problem with illegal building practices.

Think of a beach where people start building houses too close to the water. Every time a storm hits, some houses get washed away, but as soon as the storm passes, new houses pop up in the same risky places again. This cycle represents the ongoing encroachment on the riverbanks.

What we found that in 1980 it was a mangrove area totally on Mithi river, that is the road, and this is the Dharavi area, but it was actually a mangrove areas. In 1990 in the early 1990s or late 1980s some settlements have come especially the construction workers they started to build temporary houses.

This chunk discusses the transition of the area from a natural mangrove habitat in 1980 to a space with human settlements in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It shows how urbanization can transform landscapes and emphasizes the shift from ecological balance to human habitation, often without regard for environmental sustainability.

Consider an untouched forest that slowly gets cleared for houses. Over time, the once vibrant ecosystem becomes a neighborhood. This change can lead to loss of biodiversity and increased flood risk because natural protections like mangroves are removed.

The flood level in 2005 and these areas, the red mark areas close to the Mithi river, these areas were around six to ten feet of water, six to ten feet that is more than a human height okay and also they had two to five feet in most of the parts and close to the road they were not much suffered, only one feet of water.

This segment explains the severity of the flooding that occurred in 2005, with some areas experiencing water levels up to ten feet. The degree of flooding varied with proximity to the river and road, highlighting how different locations within the same community could experience vastly different flood impacts.

Imagine a bathtub that overflows when too much water is added. The water level represents the flood heights, while areas near the drain (like the road) stay relatively dry compared to those at the far end. This illustrates how location can greatly affect flood experiences.

So after we finish this exercise of connecting many more mappings and all we ask people that hey please mark us that what how you involved into this project of risk mapping, was it successful or not. So most of the cases we did very well like early engagement, representation of just stakeholder, continuity engagements clear and agreed object.

In this part, the community's feedback on their involvement in a risk mapping project is discussed. Successful elements included early engagement and clear goals. This indicates the importance of community involvement in disaster preparedness and response planning.

Think of a group project in school. When everyone has a chance to give input early in the project, the final result is usually better because all ideas are considered. This emphasizes collaborative effort.

So they said to us that okay these parameters are fine but what did you really think that this exercise did not include. So they said to us that information is fine but a participatory approach is meaningful, our participation is meaningful only when apart from information you go beyond that you can tell us that what we can do some plan actionable plan.

Residents expressed that while gathering information is helpful, they require actionable plans they can follow. They emphasized the importance of having a practical framework to change their situation, indicating a desire for more than just theoretical knowledge.

Consider a recipe for a dish. Simply knowing the ingredients is not enough; you also need instructions on how to cook it. Similarly, communities want concrete steps to address their challenges, not just data.

We started to develop an action plan for reconstruction, and rehabilitation, response, and relief of this area.

This section outlines the initiation of a concrete action plan focused on reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts. Addressing the community's needs, this plan aims to foster resilience against future risks and improve emergency response strategies.

Think of preparing a safety kit for hurricane season. A well-thought-out plan helps ensure safety and preparedness so when the storm comes, everyone knows what to do. This action plan exemplifies similar preparedness at the community level.

We actually listed down the actions for rescue operations. What they can do without external help and what they can do with the external help and these are some of the tasks representing that who will do what kind of task.

The plan outlines specific actions for rescue operations, distinguishing between those that can be performed independently by the community and those needing assistance. This promotes self-reliance while also acknowledging external support.

Think of a sports team during a game. Players know their positions and how to support one another while also relying on coaches for strategy and adjustments. Similarly, the community can act and also seek guidance to enhance their efforts.

Finally you can see that they also develop many community committees like Core action community, Chawl committees, Community volunteers also they want help from Municipal Corporations, Civil Defence, NGOs and from the researchers and Academic Institutes.

In this final part, we see the establishment of various community committees designed to foster collaboration among local residents and external agencies. This collective approach aims to maximize resources and support for addressing flood-related challenges.

Imagine a neighborhood school where parents form committees to support teachers and improve quality of education. By working together, they can advocate for better resources and create a better learning environment. In the same way, community committees can advance efforts to improve safety and preparedness.

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