Tackling the Monsoon Mayhem

 July brings monsoon to a large part of India and heavy rains in many parts of the world. While a welcome break from extreme heat and heatwaves, monsoon brings its own kind of mayhem. 

And considering India is a water-stressed country that has overdrawn its groundwater as well as having large parts of the country in drought and drought-like conditions saving water is always a priority. This is the situation in most regions of the world. Even in flood-prone weather communities and governments need to remember to 'Catch the Rain'.

Catch the Rain Pledge of Government of India 

The Government of India during the period of March 22 to November 30 has called for efforts to enhance rainwater harvesting and 'Catch the Rain'. The Jal Shakti Abhiyan's Catch the Rain (JSA:CTR) campaign calls for 

• Water Conservation at the household level
• Rainwater Harvesting from the household and community levels all the way to the state and national levels
• Mapping and Geo-tagging Existing Water Bodies Across the Nation
• Reviving and Restoring water bodies and wetlands
• Afforestation (Especially in watershed regions)
• Water Security and Conservation Education
• Jal Shakti Kendras - district level centers for water management information

EcoBloc & Rainwater Harvesting

The above The Better India reel shows the "smart drain" EcoBloc made using recycled plastic that harvests storm water. A solution by Chennai's R.R. Sivaram implemented in thousands of locations across Tamil Nadu and India harvesting millions of liters of rainwater from surface runoff.  - a win-win for SDG 12 and SDG 6 - responsible consumption and production of plastics and water - ensuring clean water and sanitation in drier non-monsoon periods. 

Sponge City Model

The Sponge City model of flood mitigation and rain and storm water harvesting is mentioned in the last post of May 2026 (28 May 2026), "Ecomodernism in the lead up to Environment Day."

Sponge cities are prime example of nature-based solution. Tested by Chinese Landscape Architect Kongjian Yu (who passed  away in September 2025) in 30 cities in China with plans for over 500 more. It includes harnessing

• porous pavements, 
• green rooftops, 
• rain gardens
•  wetlands 

to manage water, support biodiversity and improve air quality.

Reviving Water bodies and Wetlands

A major reason for both Heat Island Effect and increased instances of floods in urban areas is the encroachment and mismanagement of water bodies and wetlands. Thus whether in Summer or in Monsoon weather-proofing requires healthy wetlands and water bodies. The bonus of healthy water bodies and wetlands is the boost to biodiversity - a boost to Life Below Water (SDG 14) and Life on Land (SDG 15). 

Enhancing Watershed Areas

Water security is holistic and involves securing water resources, forests, wetlands, soil and biodiversity from overexploitation. Watershed management is vital to water security. Especially ensuring natural resources in rain-fed and rain-collecting areas that replenish both surface and ground freshwater resources is vital to ensure human security and sustainable development - especially SDG 6 and SDGs 13, 14 & 15. 

A Climate Resilient & Water Secure Future 

While being inundated by news of floods, landslides and infrastructure destroyed by heavy rains, cloudbursts and thunderstorms one is always reminded of the power and fury of nature and the man-made disasters we create by destroying natural protection against such monsoon mayhem. 

Revived and restored floodplains, wetlands that function fully as the sponges to storm water that they are and, forests and grasslands that anchor soil and prevent landslides are vital to survive the monsoon. Most especially in the watershed regions but also in urban areas where man-made flooding has become the norm rather than the exception from Millennium City (Gurugram) to Maximum City (Mumbai) to our Software and Startup Hub (Bengaluru). 

Reviving Shola grasslands in Nilgiris and the Western Ghats, protecting and restoring rainforests and forests in hill and mountain regions as well as checking unsustainable urbanization in sensitive ecosystems by fostering Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11) instead would ensure a climate resilient and water secure future for us all.

Big Apple First

The news of a planned Urban Forest in New York is a step in the right direction. In a city with such a high real estate value per square feet the declaration to prioritize greening to make the Big Apple climate resilient is a signal to the rest of the world. If New York and its NYC Urban Forest Plan can afford t make space for 30% tree canopy by 2040 then any other urban center can do it too. 

In the midst of news about the heatwaves in Europe I read about what a privilege it is to be able to see three trees out of your home, school and workplace. A globally recognized pillar of urban planning and healthy living: the 3-30-300 rule put forth by forestry expert Cecil Konijinendjik. The core of which includes

• 3 trees in view 
• 30% Canopy Cover 
• 300 meters to a Park 

This metric is failed by most global urban centers according to a Nature journal research. 

I realize how privileged my life is that my part of the world checks off this 3-30-300 metric.  Perhaps if more places met this criteria there would be less news of monsoon mayhem, wildfires or heatwaves. 

Guest Post 2: Save Water

2nd Guest Post by Venkatesh R.

[Editor's Note: Drought and Flood-Drought cycles and fresh water scarcity are the plagues of the 21st century. Be it in urban or rural areas access to safe drinking water is an indicator of development and ease of living. Venkat shares with us some means to improve water quality and water levels wherever you may be.]
 

Bamboo as Conduits of Rainwater Harvesting

Simple ways of handling the rain water can reduce and improve the ground water level. With rain being inconsistent, it’s important to save the water that is available. The simple idea of having bamboo with holes around its length can help in sending the water to a longer distance beneath the surface of the earth. In the conventional houses we are having cement based floors and even in roads the water stagnates. If the roads are made with slopes and if we can have the bamboo at particular intervals the water instead of getting stagnated on the roads and houses gets passed on to the bamboo setup and can improve the ground water level. In villages as well this can be followed up.

At the end learn and share and encourage to participate on SDG goals:

 Encourage children to think metaphorically, the nature has an answer; we need to put it as a concept and concept in action by spreading to school and colleges.

Water conservation can turn a wasteland into wonderland as demonstrated at Aravalli Institute of Management at Kaprada village, Rajasthan:

Forest in the City

Trees roots do act like pipes. One can plant trees between the actual road and service roads, i.e., before the platform. Trees regulate the temperature; the same can be done on agricultural land as well. Street lights are way taller than trees so I don't think it may affect the lighting. One may prefer to plant trees that grows to a certain limit be it vertical or sideways. The amount of money spent in garbage or water problem one can address it with trees by pruning it periodically. Nature does have solution; only man-made products are creating the issue. If one can replicate natural systems, life on  earth will survive for much longer. All the ecosystems plant, insect etc. are interconnected when one specie dies other species as well gets affected or the food chain itself gets changed.

This  44-page technical report compiled in 2014 by IISC provides an exhaustive list of “Tree species for planting on medians and road avenues,”and can be downloaded as a PDF.

Down To Earth documents the creation of a Food Forest and an elaborate water and native seed conservation system created in Nayagarh district of Odisha by Sabarmatee and her father Radha Mohan through the trust Sambav.

Guest Contributor Bio

Venkatesh R. is a Science and Social issues blogger with 10+ years of experience in the IT industry. Venkat is on a mission to create a better world for children. Venkat has won the "Beyond the Armchair" challenge conducted by the Red Elephant Foundation (REF), has contributed a number of articles in Voices of Youth, and has shared a number of ideas in climatecolab.org innovation labs, UNHSCR, GPY2015 and Openideo forums for the past 6 years. His writings and ideas can be accessed at: http://vramanusocialthoughts.blogspot.com/ (Social Issues); https://fissionminded.blogspot.com/ (His writings to bring a change in society through art as a medium); Science Blogs: http://randomthoughtsofvramanu.blogspot.com/  https://vramanu.blogspot.com/

 

Showcasing 'Solar' Suresh's Green Home Innovations

"Help the government go green....Do you look at ROI for the TV, washing machine, car...then why worry about figuring out the ROI in setting up solar panels in your home [but yes there is a 6%-8% return on investment]? It's not about generating electricity, or biogas or even usable organic manure - it's about ensuring health ... of us, our environment and by convincing others ensuring a healthy and sustainable society."

 - Solar Suresh, Chennai's Climate Hero and One Man Green Army

He is very clear he is a layperson not a green tech but he has the will to adopt these innovations at any price with extra effort. The will to change to benefit our environment is what is essential. He now is a facilitator for others to go green! He is a star alumnus of IIM-Ahmadabad and IIT-Madras - MBA and B.E.

The Centre for Science and Environment's #CSE publication has summarized Chennai's D. Suresh, the resident of Kilpauk's efforts very succinctly in this short video: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBvZeecN8Ok

Net-metering through an on-grid solar power system has been functioning in Mr Suresh's Kilpauk home for two years now. Today it will cost about Rs, 70,000/- to install. He also has an off-grid
An off-grid battery solar power system (1KWh system which can power a home) costs about Rs. 1,20,000/- today - this can function as an inverter/back-up for a net-metered on-grid solar power system in city homes for the disadvantage of the the on-grid system is the fact that it looses power when there is current cut/power shutdown/load-shedding.

His home runs on 3KWH panels that even take on airconditioning.

He aims to set up a sewage treatment plant (STP) to reuse the recycled water for gardening and the flushes.
Solar Suresh is also keen to adopt the Israeli water-from-air system, where the indigenous Akash Ganga failed despite community support, the water harvesting techniques from rain-starved Israel work well. A working model is at Connought Place in the capital city.

This water-from-air system can provide employment and deal with the potable water crisis while reducing the market for plastic packets of water and bottled water!

He adopted solar power 6 yrs ago: He hasn't experienced a power cut in these six years
He even had power when the city reeled under the Chennai Rains of November-December 2015 and Cyclone Vardah the following year.

Innovations In Use

•  3KWH solar panels 
• Off grid and On grid systems
• He has been harvesting rainwater for two decades now using the simplest sedimentation system and a good network of pipes with his terrace are the clean catchment area 20 years
• His Kitchen garden yields nutritious produce and saves on the family's grocery bill too all the while utilizing the biogas byproduct and ensuring net zero waste from his kitchen - A true closed system!
• Mini forest  to shield his home from the street traffic pollution and noise and give him privacy from neighboring apartments!

How are the green innovations he's adopted helping?

1. Saving foreign exchange
2. Reducing his carbon footprint
3. Contributing to lowering GHG emissions - with his home and 30 places he has set up and the green movement he is inspiring with footfall of over 2000 people visiting him to see his green home and talks locally, nationally and internationally. 
4. Reducing the demand for LPG subsidy
5. Saving planet and preventing use of fossil fuels
6. These initiative improve health. 
7. Contribute to solid waste management
8. Reduce mosquito breeding sites through stopping flooding around his home and organic garbage in and around his home. 
9. Saves water - his well has water at 5 meters below ground
10. His green cover improves air quality.

Bio gas plant - modified gobbar gas plant fed exclusively by kitchen waste for the urban setting. 

Harvesting rainwater for 2 decades long before it became compulsory. Inspired by practices in his days in Gujarat where large vessels were placed in courtyards and terrace to collect rainwater.

 

 Mini-biogas system

Mr. D. Suresh's vibrant terrace vegetable garden nourished by the biogas plant slurry!

The entire Suresh clan set a high bar. His wife Dr. Jayashri Suresh has helped set up many educational institutions and serves as advisor to others and is now helping set up an innovative and  holistic PG Certificate in Education a teacher's training course for the DAV group of institutions  - Guru Shikshanam.

More details can be sought via email: guru.shikshanam@davchennai.org

His son and daughter-in-law, Sujay and Innu both graduates of the prestigious ISB head a design start-up in Bangalore: Zwende.com with a store in Indira Nagar.

 
A product from Zwende.com - Kalamkari-faux leather bag