Nationwide survey claims 94% citizens face waterlogging, flooding during monsoon

Hyderabad: In a countrywide survey by LocalCircles, 94 per cent of citizens surveyed said that their city/district gets waterlogged during the monsoon season. The survey results were created from 22,000 answers from residents in 293 districts throughout India, to assess the scope of the flooding problem and how it affects people.

Around 69 per cent of responders were men, while 31 per cent were women. As much as 48 per cent of responders were from Tier 1 areas, 33 per cent were from Tier 2, and 19 per cent were from Tier 3, 4, and rural regions.

Reduction in productivity

The survey’s initial goal was to determine the extent of waterlogging throughout the country. The questions included, “Based on past experience, does your city/district gets waterlogged during monsoon season?” The inquiry generated 11,229 replies, with 94 per cent of those polled reporting that their city/district floods during the monsoon season.

According to data, 58 per cent of people suffer considerably because their city/district is “quite badly” impacted, while 36 per cent say it is “somewhat affected.” Around 3 per cent of respondents, on the other hand, stated that the “drainage system in their city/district is good and we do not get waterlogged” during the monsoon season. Furthermore, 3 per cent of respondents did not provide a clear response.

Around 84 per cent of those impacted by waterlogging indicated that the flooding results in them spending more time in traffic while 64 per cent said they end up losing working hours.

The following inquiry aimed to learn from citizens how water logging affects them. When the respondents were asked, “Based on your experience over the last few years, what are some of the issues you have faced as a result of waterlogging?” among 11,000 people who answered the question, a majority blamed water logging for increased traffic, lost productivity, higher vehicle wear and tear, and more accidents. Some responders mentioned more than one difficulty caused by waterlogging.

Waterlogging, according to 84 per cent of respondents, causes them to spend “much more time in traffic,” while 68 per cent say it causes “vehicle wear and tear and related costs.” As much as 68 per cent said it increases the “risk of accidents”; 54 per cent of respondents said it causes “loss of working hours/productivity.” As much as 16 per cent stated new difficulties not previously discussed, and 4 per cent had no clear response.

According to the poll, 94 per cent of residents surveyed from throughout the country have experienced this state of things in cities or districts, with 58 per cent reporting that their city/district is severely waterlogged.

LocalCircles released a statement saying that “It is a sad state of affairs that, despite the Central Government having a distinct Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and states boasting of urban planning and development ministries, all plans crumble after a spell of rain, not necessarily a flood or downpour.”

“LocalCircles will share the survey results with the appropriate parties in the hope that further efforts will be made towards improved planning and execution, including addressing the issue of responsibility,” read their statement. The poll was done using the LocalCircles platform, and all participants were verified citizens who had to be registered with LocalCircles in order to participate.