Moving towards a smart and resilient city: Kolkata introduces a new warning system for flooding

• ​The FFEWS for Kolkata City will be the first comprehensive city-level early warning system in India. It has been designed to provide forecasts as well as real-time updates from sensor nodes installed in key points throughout the city. 
  
  
• The system includes: weather forecasts; flood models for various intensities of rainfall; real-time information on key pump status, sump and canal water levels, actual rainfall, inundation levels, among others; and a messaging system to provide warnings and real-time information to city officials and citizens.

Kolkata, 27th September 2018: Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) with support from Asian Development Bank (ADB) as a part of the Kolkata Environment and Investment Improvement Program (KEIIP) has introduced India’s first comprehensive city-level early flood warning system (FEEWS). The FEEWS was launched in the esteemed presence of Mr. Sovan Chatterjee, Hon’ble Mayor on 27 September at a seminar organized at the Taj Bengal. Hon’ble Mayor said that the FFEWS set up by the civic body set up with financial assistance from Asian Development Bank(ADB) will forecast and at the same time provide real time information on inundation, temperature, air quality, and other climate related data through sensor nodes that will be installed at more than 400 vulnerable points in the city.

The FFEWS consists of forecast, models and scenarios, real-time status and warning pages. Over 400 sensor nodes monitoring pump operation status, sump water level, street, canal and shop/building front water levels, rainfall, air quality, temperature and humidity are being set up to provide granular data in real-time. Suspended particulate matter and thermal comfort (heat index) monitoring (through air quality, temperature and humidity sensors) are integrated with the system to ensure year-round use of the FFEWS. The information generated and disseminated by the FFEWS will enable informed decision making before and during and after disasters. This warning and forecast data can be accessed anywhere using web browsers and mobile apps.

The FFEWS for Kolkata City has been designed and implemented through a technical assistance (TA) attached to KEIIP, TA-9157 IND: Strengthening Climate Resilience of Kolkata City through Improved Planning and Disaster Risk Management, funded by ADB’s Urban Climate Change Resilience Trust Fund (UCCRTF) under the Urban Financing Partnership Facility. A consortium comprising consultants from TARU Leading Edge Pvt. Ltd., Price Waterhouse Cooper, and Antea Group is assisting KMC to design and implement the system.

British Deputy High Commissioner in Kolkata , Mr Bruce Bucknell praised the system during its launch. ADB Country Director, in India, Kenichi Yokoyama said that their agency will go all the way to promote such environment friendly system for Kolkata.

One of the major challenges facing the city during medium to heavy rainfall events is blocking of traffic along flooded sections. The FFEWS will provide real time information of water logging, so that the Traffic police can redirect traffic in less flooded sections.  With the availability of real time inundation information, the S&D department can deploy the portable pumps better. The granular time series data on rainfall, inundation and drainage network performance can aid in designing better drainage system addressing vulnerable areas and inform urban planning. 

The warning can enable people to take preventive measures to reduce loss and damage to life and property. The FFEWS can Improve flood awareness and safety at community and city level.

About KEIIP: 

KEIIP (Kolkata Environmental Improvement Investment Program) is conceived as a logical extension to the ongoing works to cover balance area i.e. about 37 sq.km. which is still devoid of any organized S & D facility. It is also seen that the current water loss service level is far beyond the target due to - system loss (mainly from house connections and stand posts); uneven distribution of supply water; inadequate reservoir capacity; old piping system causing frictional loss and low residual friction, Intermittent supply etc.

The primary mission of the project as envisaged is, “Benchmarking the services that enhance the quality of urban life and environment, with state-of-the-art technologies, in a sustainable and independent way". The global objectives aim at providing affordable access to water supply, sewerage and drainage services in KMC area and enhance quality and sustainability of urban service delivery by institutional reforms and capacity building. Please visit our website at http://www.keiip.in/bl3/. You can also follow us on Twitter: @keiip_kolkata.