Shreya Vijay Sonar

UR3596

Nature-Based Solutions: Addressing the Hybrid Ecosystems for South Asian Monsoon Climates (Tekra-Talav Hybrid System)
Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are sustainable strategies that support natural processes to address climate, environmental, and social challenges while enhancing ecosystem resilience (IUCN, 2020). By integrating green infrastructure, landscape-based interventions, and ecological restoration, NbS provides multifunctional benefits such as flood mitigation, groundwater recharge, and improved urban livability. In monsoon-dominated South Asian cities, where urban flooding and seasonal water scarcity are escalating issues, NbS offers a viable approach to rethinking water management. A prime example of traditional water management is the Tekra-Talav system, a centuries-old method that strategically utilizes elevated landforms (tekra) for habitation while directing excess rainwater into reservoirs (talav) for storage and gradual percolation. Once integral to cities like Ahmedabad, rapid urbanization has severely impacted this system, leading to increased surface runoff, reduced groundwater recharge, and heightened flood risks. Within the Thaltej Tekra catchment, these issues are compounded by terrain alteration, encroachment, and a loss of open hydrological connections, making it a critical site to rethink water-sensitive urban strategies. This research is a part of the ongoing University Research Pool (URP) project, Embracing Green Infrastructure: A Ground-up Adaptation of Nature-based Solutions in South Asian Cities, which investigates how GIS-based hydrological analysis can facilitate the adaptation of NbS in monsoon climates. The methodology combines micro, meso, and macro-scale Analysis, surface studies, and land-use change analysis with local ground-truthing. Two vulnerable land parcels in the Thaltej Tekra catchment are identified for intervention, evaluated through a site-specific checklist that considers hydrological, socio-cultural, spatial, and regulatory factors. By integrating traditional water wisdom with modern urban design tools, the study proposes a hybrid NbS adaptation framework tailored to Ahmedabad’s context but scalable to other South Asian cities facing similar monsoon-related water and climate challenges. 
Keywords: Nature-based Solutions (NbS), Tekra-Talav System, Climate Adaptation, Urban Flooding, South Asia, Ahmedabad