Managing of urban flood risk in Colombo with spatial planning

Abstract

Land and water are inseparably linked with each other. External pressures on either water or the land result in chains of impacts on both. Uncontrolled urban growth leads intensive urban growth into natural floodplains. As a result, flood risk and vulnerabilities in many of urban areas are on the rise. The technical measures as well as other planning operations on a continuous basis, which remains unchanged urban flood risk. Presently, it has been recognized that a new approach should be designed to cope up with both flood hazard and vulnerabilities would provide long lasting solution. The importance of spatial planning for an effective flood risk management strategy highlights the multifunctional and integrated benefits of spaces. Currently, many developed countries have already adopted risk based management approach over the traditional flood protection strategies. City of Colombo located adjacent to the downstream of Kelani River is highly vulnerable to floods. It has been regularly flooded in recent decades and brings many hardships to both community and economy despite the available flood protection measures. This present research analyses literature on flood risk management and interface between flood risk management and spatial planning and it discusses the salient characteristics of risk based planning interventions.