77904 Issue #4 March 2013 Projecthighlights Transforming Colombo into a Flood Resilient Middle Income Country Capital The Metro-Colombo Urban Development The recurrent floods in the Colombo metropolitan Project (MCUDP) area are due to a combination of factors including Sustainable Flood Risk Management unauthorized constructions that obstruct water flow, dumping waste in the drainage canals, backwater for the Colombo Metropolitan Area build-up in the main canal system, lack of regular maintenance of the drainage system, and commercial Floods in Colombo development in wetland reservations. These activities have reduced Colombo’s capacity to cope with high The Colombo metropolitan area is Sri Lanka’s commercial intensity rainfall that has become more frequent and hub and accounts for almost 50 percent of the country’s intense due to the impact of climate change. GDP. However, Colombo is highly vulnerable to flooding, and has experienced regular floods for the past 30 years, Investing in Colombo’s Future affecting over 1.2 million people annually. In 2010, the city was inundated by two major floods in the months In a bid to transform Colombo and its metropolitan of May and November. These floods cost Colombo area into a modern, world-class Middle Income millions of dollars in economic losses due to business Country capital, the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) interruption, in addition to severe damages afflicted on has launched an ambitious economic and physical public and private property. Also, these events result in regeneration program for the Metro Colombo area. many hardships to city’s residents. This process includes a sustainable, long term, flood risk management program for Colombo. At the request of the GoSL, the World Bank is supporting Colombo’s Photo above: Colombo’s transformation under the Metro Colombo transformation under the Metro Colombo Urban Urban Development Project (MCUDP). Development Project (MCUDP). The World Bank has www.gfdrr.org Projecthighlights Top and bottom: Secondary canals. committed a financial assistance package of US$213 million An Integrated Flood Management System for the greater and will provide technical assistance to design and implement Colombo basin will also be developed and will include a the project. detailed drainage study and a real-time monitoring system. The MCUDP will consist of two main components: To encourage proper maintenance of Colombo’s ■■ Component 1 invests in urgent flood mitigation waterfront areas, the project will develop the Beira Lake infrastructure and supports drainage improvement waterfront and the Beddegana Wetland located in the metro activities Colombo area. Beira Lake’s embankment system will be improved and a promenade will be constructed to provide ■■ Component 2 builds the institutional capacity of the recreational space within the core area of the city. A wetland government agencies to enhance long term flood park will be constructed in the Beddegana Wetland and will risk management include bird watching facilities, play areas, jogging tracks, etc. This will prevent encroachment on the wetlands by Component 1: Flood & Drainage Management unauthorized commercial development. Component 1 addresses the urgent problem of urban flooding, which regularly economic activities of Colombo and the entire Component 2: Institutional Capacity country. Component 2 aims to support local authorities in the Colombo As an immediate intervention, primary and secondary metropolitan area to rehabilitate and manage their drainage canals and lakes will be targeted to increase water conveyance infrastructure and improve the systematic collection of and retention capacity. Also, the micro-drainage system in the Metro Colombo area will be improved to solve the problem of urban flooding in 15 critical locations. To ensure the sustainability of drainage system maintenance, the project will finance the purchase of maintenance machinery. A water-based transport system will be introduced, on a pilot basis, as a possible source of sustainable funding for water system maintenance. As an immediate intervention, primary and secondary canals and lakes will be targeted to increase water conveyance and retention capacity. 2 Projecthighlights Colombo’s transformation under the Metro Colombo Urban Development Project (MCUDP). solid waste, which often clogs drainage system and leads to flooding. The key interventions under this component include The Policy and Human Resources the rehabilitation of drainage infrastructure; the landscaping Development Fund of Japan has joined of flood-retention areas; the rehabilitation of streets; the rehabilitation of maintenance facilities; the acquisition GFDRR in supporting the development of equipment for solid waste collection; and drainage of a detailed flood risk assessment and a maintenance works. flood risk mitigation strategy for metro Assistance from GFDRR Colombo. The Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) of the World Bank assisted in the initial technical studies including the development of hydraulic and hydrological model of the macro- and micro- drainage systems of the Colombo basin. This included a LiDAR survey of the metro Colombo area that provided a high resolution Digital Terrain Model, which significantly contributed in developing a model with a very high accuracy. In addition, bathymetric and hydrographic surveys of the canal network and retention areas, update of the land use maps, short interval rainfall analysis for the basin to derive the recent trends were also carried out to enhance the model accuracy. The model was used to evaluate different flood mitigation interventions and the most effective interventions were selected to be implemented under the MCUDP component 1. The model will also allow generate high resolution flood inundation maps that can be used in comprehensive flood risk assessments. The Policy and Human Resources Development Fund of Japan Benefits of Flood Mitigation Efforts in Colombo has joined GFDRR in supporting to carry out a detailed flood Reducing the occurrence of floods in Colombo would risk assessment and a flood risk mitigation strategy for metro generate multiple economic and social benefits for residents Colombo, further strengthening the MCUDP. of Colombo and the entire country. Nearly 1.6 million people will benefit from flood mitigation measures, including about 220,000 people living in the Municipal Council areas of 3 Projecthighlights CAPRA Training, Colombo, May 2012. Colombo, Dehiwela-Mt Lavinia, Sri Jayawardenapura-Kotte, (ECLAC), was used to evaluate flood impacts. The assessment and Kolonnawa. The main economic benefits include reduced was coordinated by the Disaster Management Centre of the damages to residential properties and public infrastructure, Ministry of Disaster Management and more than 20 national avoidance of economic losses from disruption of business agencies were involved. In addition, a number of non activities, reduced emergency management and relief costs, governmental and private sector agencies were also involved. and reduced post-disaster health services costs. In addition, Approximately 693,035 people, or 161,181 families, fewer flood events will increase Colombo’s development were affected in varying degrees by the floods and the total potential and improve the city’s image. The intangible value of damages to physical property and economic losses benefits of the project include a healthier, more beautiful city suffered in the five districts was estimated at US$ 50.6 million. that offers better protection for its bio-diversity and greater The districts of Colombo and Gampaha suffered the most, recreational opportunities for residents and tourists. experiencing the highest number of flood victims (Gampaha District 221,808; Colombo District 200,633). In both cases, Sri Lanka’s First Post Disaster Needs the assessment noted that the impact of the floods could have Assessment (PDNA) been lower if drainage networks were functioning better. The As part of the World Bank’s Disaster Risk Management Government of Sri Lanka spent approximately US$815,145 on initiatives in Sri Lanka, the World Bank and the UNDP relief operations. supported the Government of Sri Lanka in conducting the Considering the comprehensive nature of the assessment, country’s first integrated Post Disaster Needs Assessment the National Council for Disaster Management, Chaired (PDNA). The assessment evaluated the impacts of the May by the President of Sri Lanka, decided that PDNAs will be 2010 floods on the five worst affected districts; Colombo, conducted for any future disasters affecting over 50,000 Gampaha, Kalutara, Galle, and Matara. The Damage and people in Sri Lanka. Such PDNAs are expected to support Loss Assessment (DaLA) methodology, developed by the sustainable recovery efforts and strengthen national disaster Economic Commission for Latin America and Caribbean risk reduction strategies. Disclaimer: The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Executive Directors of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, The World Bank or the governments they represent. The World Bank does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this work. The boundaries, colors, denominations, and other informa- tion shown on any map in this work do not imply any judgment on the part of The World Bank concerning the legal status of any territory or the endorsement or acceptance of such boundaries.