Why India's budget push to infrastructure should consider climate resilience

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For instance, the Indore municipal corporation is taking a more active role in linking urban water management with climate adaptation, and thus adequate storm water drainage has become a priority for new road development. Also, conserving green spaces and promoting grey water reutilisation and treatment programmes are featured in the revisions of the City Development Plan after 2014.

Investment in climate-resilient infrastructure can fetch benefits worth more than $4.2 trillion (Rs 316 lakh crore) in low- and middle-income countries, as per a 2019 report from the World Bank.

With the increasing intensity and frequency of cyclones on India's west coast, there has been a need for adequate disaster mitigation infrastructure like shelters, all-weather roads and embankments. However, states have been slow in installing this critical infrastructure, IndiaSpend reported in May 2021.

Some cities, like Mumbai and Nagpur, have also come up with city climate action plans to mainstream climate action in the city's development plan. But, there is no policy mandate for cities to come up with their own action plans, said Mohanty. "And none of the national action plan, state action plan on climate change or the disaster management plans actually include a lot on the climate-proofing of infrastructure."

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