Sustainable Urban Stormwater Management: A Case for Tumakuru Local Planning Area, Karnataka, India

Along with the growing awareness towards environmental degradation and resource depletion, the need to find indigenous sustainable solutions is called for and it is in this context that one of the traditional water management systems in Karnataka is reviewed through the lens of ecosystem services. Traditional systems when engulfed by urban development lose their intended use and generally get deteriorated and misused. By identifying and understanding the ecosystem services provided by these traditional systems, we can mainstream them into urban planning process inorder to derive the benefits therein. The research reveals that Traditional drainage network provides for regulating, cultural and supporting services in an agrarian landscape and affirms the significant role and opportunity that they provide for urban stormwater management. Based on the ecosystem services provided by TDN, certain restoration, planning and management measures for urban stormwater management are proposed which aid in providing urban ecosystem services. This approach integrates TDN into urban planning process, manage urban stormwater and contribute positively to urban environment.