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Assessing Rainfall Patterns and their Implications on Stormwater

Flows: A Water-Sensitive Urban Planning Study of Mysore City

Sayed Najibullah Hashimi

; V. Rakesh Kumar

; Professor. Dr. Nagendra. H. N

Research Scholar School of Planning and Architecture University of Mysore Department of

Planning

Research Scholar School of Planning and Architecture University of Mysore Department of

Planning

Supervisor Professor of Urban and Regional Planning Department of Planning School of

Planning and Architecture, Manasagangotri, University of Mysore, Mysuru-570006

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51583/IJLTEMAS.2026.150100096

Received: 04 February 2026; Accepted: 09 February 2026; Published: 17 February

2026

ABSTRACT

This study uses the Water-Sensitive Urban Planning and Design (WSUPD) paradigm to investigate the

relationship between stormwater flow performance and rainfall variability in Mysore City. Stormwater

stagnation and urban flooding are becoming more common in Mysore, despite the city's historical

reputation for having a planned urban shape and moderate rainfall. Understanding how rainfall intensity

and solid waste mismanagement interact to impact drainage system performance is a crucial research gap

that the current Mysore Master Plan does not adequately address. All municipal wards, including J.P.

Nagar, Jayanagar, Kuvempunagara, Vijayanagar, Gokulam, Udayagiri, and important arterial corridors, are

included in the study, which combines a 35-year rainfall trend analysis with hydrological assessment and

in-depth field studies. According to field observations, silt, organic matter, plastic garbage, and

construction debris have all accumulated widely in stormwater drains, severely reducing their flow

capacity.

The results show a clear connection between drainage obstructions and solid waste buildup, which worsen

flooding during periods of heavy precipitation. The study comes to the conclusion that poor drainage and

waste management have a significant impact on flooding in Mysore and are not only caused by variations

in rainfall. In order to improve flood resilience and ecological sustainability, it suggests integrated urban

planning reforms that harmonize solid waste management, drainage infrastructure upkeep, and water-

sensitive design principles with Mysore's urban growth policies.

Keywords: Stormwater Management; Water-Sensitive Urban Planning and Design (WSUPD); Rainfall

Variability, Solid Waste Management; Drainage Infrastructure; Mysore City; Climate Resilience; Urban

Planning Policy

INTRODUCTION

Rapid urbanization and climate change are imposing unprecedented stresses on urban water systems

worldwide. Cities in the Global South, in particular, face a dual challenge: managing the hydrological

impacts of impervious surface expansion while adapting to increasingly variable and intense rainfall

regimes. This confluence often overwhelms conventional drainage infrastructure, leading to increased

flood risk, erosion, water pollution, and the degradation of aquatic ecosystems. In this context, the paradigm

of Water-Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) has emerged as a critical planning framework. It advocates for

the holistic integration of the urban water cycle—including stormwater, groundwater, and wastewater—

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into city planning to enhance sustainability, resilience, and livability.

The pressure on water resources is acute, as water is an indispensable natural resource fundamental to all

life. Its availability, in terms of both quality and quantity, is a critical determinant for the sustainability of

ecosystems and human societies. Surface water bodies, which include flowing (lotic) systems such as rivers

and streams, as well as static (lentic) systems like ponds, lakes, and reservoirs, are particularly vulnerable.

These lentic systems, often central to urban landscapes for supply, recreation, and ecology, are highly

susceptible to the impacts of altered hydrological regimes caused by urban development. Mysore City, a

rapidly expanding tier-II city in Karnataka, India, epitomizes this complex challenge. Historically known

for its moderate climate and structured layout, Mysore is experiencing significant transformation due to

urban sprawl and shifting precipitation patterns. While the city’s traditional drainage network was designed

for historical climatic conditions, contemporary observations suggest alterations in rainfall intensity,

duration, and seasonal distribution.

These changes, compounded by widespread land-use conversion—where natural pervious landscapes are

replaced by impervious surfaces like rooftops, roads, and pavements—critically impair groundwater

recharge and accelerate surface runoff. This creates a strategic blind spot for planners and engineers, as a

systematic assessment of how current and projected rainfall patterns interact with the transformed urban

landscape to generate stormwater flows is absent.

This study, therefore, seeks to bridge this gap by conducting a comprehensive analysis of rainfall patterns

and their direct implications on stormwater hydrology in Mysore City. It employs a combination of

historical meteorological data analysis, geographic information systems (GIS), and hydrological

modelling. The investigation is grounded in empirical field data from representative urban morphologies,

such as the Bannimantap a Layout, where precise geospatial analysis quantifies the extent of impervious

cover and its role in altering the local hydrological regime. The primary objectives are to: (1) identify

decadal trends in rainfall intensity, frequency, and seasonality over the Mysore region; (2) model the

resultant stormwater flow responses under different urban development scenarios; and (3) evaluate the

capacity of existing drainage infrastructure against these hydrological loads.

Ultimately, this research aims to provide evidence-based insights to inform water-sensitive urban planning

strategies for Mysore. The findings are intended to guide the development of robust, adaptive stormwater

management policies that mitigate flood risk, protect water quality, and contribute to the city’s long-term

climate resilience and sustainable growth. By using specific urban fabrics as a microcosm for study, the

research provides a scalable model for practical, localized WSUD interventions across the city.

The study offers a thorough scientific evaluation of rainfall properties, such as intensity, distribution, and

temporal variability, all of which are essential for comprehending stormwater generation processes and

peak flow behavior in urban settings. Critical discrepancies between current drainage capacities and real

hydrological demands under shifting rainfall regimes are identified by the research by methodically

connecting rainfall patterns with stormwater runoff dynamics. The study goes beyond traditional,

engineering-centric drainage techniques by taking a water-sensitive urban design stance. In order to

increase urban resilience to climate-induced rainfall extremes and lessen reliance on hard infrastructure

alone, it highlights the integration of blue-green infrastructure, natural drainage systems, and land-use

planning initiatives.

For Mysuru City, where empirical rainfall-runoff studies are still scarce despite frequent urban floods and

drainage issues, the study also provides evidence-based design insights. The results provide credence to

the development of context-specific stormwater management plans, such as decentralized stormwater

interventions like infiltration and retention systems, lake–drain integration, and drain modification. By

emphasizing the necessity of updated drainage design guidelines, climate-responsive urban planning

frameworks, and integrated governance mechanisms, the study advances urban policy and planning

practice. The findings of this study can help policymakers, planners, and urban municipal authorities create

sustainable stormwater management plans that support long-term goals for environmental preservation,

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urban growth, and climate adaption.

LITERATURE REVIEW

Urbanization, Rainfall Variability, and Storm Flow Challenges

This investigates the effects of climate variability, shifting rainfall patterns, and fast urbanization on storm

flows and urban flooding. By stressing how rainfall unpredictability, land-use change, loss of natural

drainage, and data restrictions contribute to the escalation of stormwater issues in Indian cities—with

particular reference to Mysuru—it sets the hydrometeorological and planning backdrop.

This GIS-based study analyzes rainfall variability and its impact on groundwater table fluctuations in

Mysore Taluk, Karnataka, from 2001 to 2011. Using data from six rain gauge stations and nine observation

wells, the authors applied arithmetic mean, Thiessen polygon, and iso-hyetal methods to map spatio-

temporal trends. Results indicate an average annual rainfall of 724.83 mm, with distinct seasonal patterns

and a declining trend toward the southwestern region.

Groundwater levels, influenced by rainfall and perennial rivers like the Cauvery, showed shallow

conditions in northern and southeastern areas. The study underscores the utility of GIS for monitoring and

managing water resources in urbanizing regions like Mysore (Sharifi et al.,2016). According to analyses

the impact of urbanization on soil, water, and biodiversity, advocating for ecologically-informed land use

planning. Through a GIS case study of Austin, Texas, Kharel (2010) found that over 10% of

environmentally sensitive land (including slopes, water bodies, and floodplains) had been developed,

highlighting a critical planning failure. The author proposes a two-part corrective framework: a "Where to"

strategy to first identify and protect vital ecological areas, followed by a "How to" strategy to guide

sustainable development on suitable land.

For a study on Mysore City, this work underscores a foundational principle: effective, water-sensitive urban

planning and stormwater management must begin with legally protecting natural drainage systems and

watershed functions from incompatible development. (Kharel, G. 2010) This study examines the extreme

rainfall and devastating floods in Hyderabad (October 2020), linking the disaster to a Mesoscale

Convective Complex (MCC) embedded in a synoptic depression. It emphasizes that urban vulnerabilities—

such as loss of water bodies, encroached floodplains, and inadequate drainage—amplified the impact. The

paper underscores the critical need to integrate meteorological analysis with water-sensitive urban planning

to build resilience (Singh et al. ;2024) This review analyzes climate resilience planning methodologies

across seven Indian cities, including Mysore, under the ACCCRN initiative. For Mysore, a replication-

phase city, the process employed a qualitative, stakeholder-driven approach led by ICLEI. It utilized Shared

Learning Dialogues with city officials to identify fragile urban systems and vulnerabilities, relying on

existing regional climate assessments rather than city-specific climate or hydrological modeling. A key

finding was the critical challenge of data scarcity, where a lack of localized, granular data (e.g., for detailed

rainfall or stormwater flow analysis) constrained technical vulnerability assessments.

The study underscores that successful resilience planning requires contextualized methodologies and

strong institutional coordination, highlighting a common gap in quantitative, sector-specific data that

studies aiming to model urban hydrology must address (Sharma et al.;2013) This study demonstrates that

high spatial resolution of rainfall data is critical for accurate urban hydrological modeling. Analyzing two

years of data from 22 rain gauges over 125 km², the authors found that while low- to medium-intensity

events are spatially well-correlated, correlation drops sharply for high-intensity storms, indicating

significant spatial variability. Reducing the measurement network by half introduced errors up to 25% for

frequent storms and 45% for rarer events, while assuming uniform rainfall from a single gauge amplified

error to 75–125%. The findings underscore that coarse rainfall inputs can severely mislead stormwater

infrastructure design, advocating for dense measurement networks to capture the true variability of intense

rainstorms (Roman Maier et al.;2020) This study analyzes historical and projected rainfall patterns in,

India, to evaluate their impact on urban stormwater flows.

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Using hydrological modeling and spatial analysis, the authors assess the capacity of existing drainage

infrastructure under varying climatic scenarios. The research highlights increasing vulnerability to urban

flooding due to intensified rainfall events and inadequate stormwater management systems. The paper

advocates for water-sensitive urban design (WSUD) principles, including green infrastructure, permeable

surfaces, and integrated drainage planning, to enhance urban resilience. The findings contribute to the

discourse on sustainable urban planning by emphasizing the need for adaptive, ecologically informed

stormwater strategies in rapidly urbanizing regions (Smith, J., & Kumar, A. 2023).

Fundamentals of Urban Stormwater and Flood Management

This study the fundamentals of managing floods and stormwater in urban areas, highlighting the shift from

traditional rapid-drainage methods to integrated, watershed-based, and multi-objective systems. It offers

the institutional, hydrological, and engineering foundation required to comprehend why conventional grey

infrastructure is inadequate on its own in the face of growing urban and climatic stresses.

In this study present a holistic framework for urban flood management, advocating a shift from purely

technical solutions to integrated strategies that combine spatial planning, land-use policies, and community

engagement. The study an evolutionary approach—from indigenous adaptation and structural control to

non-structural measures and, ultimately, to "living with floods"—emphasizing sustainable urban drainage

systems (SUDS), flood-proofing techniques (e.g., dry and wet proofing), and catchment-scale planning.

For a study on Mysore City, this work provides a foundational perspective, stressing that effective flood

and stormwater management requires multidisciplinary collaboration, context-sensitive solutions, and the

integration of water-sensitive design into urban development, particularly in rapidly urbanizing regions

(Szöllősi-Nagy and Zevenbergen 2005) The Municipal Stormwater Management, provides a holistic

framework essential for water-sensitive urban planning. It argues that effective stormwater management

must concurrently address institutional (governance, funding, regulations), technical (hydrologic design,

BMPs), and implementation (construction, maintenance) challenges. The study introduces the diagnostic

"Five Whys" tool to uncover root causes of stormwater problems.

It documents the paradigm shift from traditional rapid conveyance to contemporary, multi-objective

strategies emphasizing pollution control, ecological integrity, and watershed-scale integration through

Low-Impact Development (LID) principles. With extensive design guidance for infrastructure and BMPs,

coupled with chapters on master planning and program development, this work is a critical reference for

developing comprehensive, sustainable stormwater management systems, directly informing studies like

that of Mysore City which seek to link rainfall patterns with integrated urban drainage solutions (Debo and

Reese’s2003)

The Urban Flood Mitigation and Stormwater Management provide a comprehensive and applied treatment

of modern stormwater management, integrating conventional engineering approaches with contemporary

Low-Impact Development (LID) strategies. The study is structured in two parts: the first covers hydrologic

fundamentals (rainfall analysis, watershed modeling, frequency analysis, and the Rational Method), while

the second details hydraulic design of urban drainage components (channels, culverts, inlets, sewers,

detention basins, and LID facilities) (Guo2017). This foundational work argues for a paradigm shift from

fragmented pollution control to integrated, watershed-scale stormwater management. It emphasizes that

urban runoff and combined sewer overflows are significant sources of pollutants (sediments, metals,

pathogens) that degrade receiving waters. The study catalogs a wide array of Best Management Practices

(BMPs), from source controls (e.g., porous pavements) to treatment technologies, and stresses the necessity

of combining flood control, pollution abatement, and water reclamation in a unified planning framework.

This integrated approach provides a critical conceptual model for developing a water-sensitive urban plan

for Mysore City, advocating for system-wide analysis before selecting site-specific solutions (Field, R

etal.;1993) Principles of Stormwater Management serves as a comprehensive introductory textbook that

bridges fundamental concepts and modern regulatory practice.

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The author establishes a holistic framework by beginning with the hydrologic cycle, emphasizing how

contaminants enter water at every stage—from atmospheric deposition to surface runoff. This systemic

view underscores a core principle for urban planning: stormwater is not merely a drainage problem but a

key component of the urban water cycle that must be managed for quality and quantity from "source to

sink. (Griffin's 2018)

Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) and Sustainable Drainage Systems

This presents Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD), a thorough planning and design methodology that

combines urban form, ecology, and governance with stormwater management. It emphasizes how

important WSUD is for improving water quality, reducing flooding, and fostering urban resilience,

especially in the Global South's fast-growing cities like Mysuru.

In according to the report establish Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) as an integrated stormwater

management philosophy. Their industry report provides a practical framework for implementing WSUD,

emphasizing a treatment train of Best Management Practices (BMPs). It is substantiated by the landmark

Lynbrook Estate case study, which demonstrated the hydraulic, water quality, and community acceptance

benefits of bio-filtration systems, with a modest capital cost increase. The report also introduces the

MUSIC modelling tool for scheme evaluation and identifies regulatory and institutional barriers to

adoption. This work provides a comprehensive reference for the planning, technical design, and socio-

economic considerations relevant to implementing WSUD in cities like Mysore City (Lloyd et al. ;2002)

In this Study argue for a radical re-conceptualization of Water Sensitive Planning (WSP) for cities in the

Global South, where informal development, infrastructure deficits, and water insecurity prevail.

Critiquing Western-derived models as misaligned with Southern urban realities, they propose a

framework that embeds water security into core spatial planning processes.

Key principles include aligning roads and drains with hydro-geography, protecting water commons, using

green spaces for recharge, and treating wastewater as a resource. The study emphasizes that for cities like

Mysore, effective WSP requires deep institutional integration between city and water planners, and

planning interventions that respect local watersheds and address the challenges of informality and scale

(Ashok Kumar et al.;2023) The study addresses a critical gap in Water-Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD)

planning: the lack of integrated frameworks to optimize green-grey infrastructure combinations using

multi-dimensional criteria. The authors developed and applied a "score-rank-select" strategy, utilizing

Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) to assess five WSUD scenarios at the University of

Melbourne’s Parkville campus across functional, economic, social, and environmental aspects.A key

finding was that the optimal scenario was not the one with the highest proportion of green infrastructure

(69%), but a balanced "equal grey-green" design with 52% green facilities.

This highlights a non-linear trade-off between grey and green components, demonstrating that

maximizing one type does not guarantee superior overall performance. The authors strongly advocate for

the broader adoption of such comprehensive MCDA frameworks to support sustainable, evidence-based

decision-making in urban water management (Xiong et al.;2020) In the review evaluate the role of

retrofitting Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) in bolstering urban flood resilience. They identify green

roofs, rainwater harvesting, permeable paving, and rain gardens as the most viable retrofit options for

dense cities due to their low spatial footprint. The study underscores that while SuDS implementation

faces challenges related to cost, land ownership, and maintenance, it provides significant co-benefits,

including improved water quality, urban cooling, biodiversity, and public amenity. The authors conclude

that SuDS are not a standalone solution for extreme events but are essential within an integrated, multi-

functional urban water management framework, requiring proactive planning and design to maximize

resilience and ancillary benefits (Lamond et al.;2015) To provide quantitative evidence for the efficacy

of Water-Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) at the residential allotment scale. Modeling a densifying lot in

Melbourne, they found that an integrated system combining a rainwater tank, rain garden, and infiltration

trench was most effective, reducing peak flows for a 1-in-5-year storm by 90% and mitigating frequent

small storms. While such combinations are costlier, the study demonstrates that allotment-scale WSUD

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retrofits can significantly counteract the increased runoff from urbanization, supporting their role as a

crucial component of integrated flood resilience strategies.

This evidence is directly relevant for assessing the potential of decentralized, source-control measures in

managing stormwater in developing urban areas like Mysore City ( Rashetnia et al.;2025) The Study

Focus and Problem Identified: address the critical challenge of optimizing the spatial placement of Water

Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) features for pluvial flood mitigation. The authors highlight that

traditional, catchment-wide WSUD implementation is often inefficient, as not all locations equally

influence flooding due to complex interactions between rainfall, catchment characteristics, and drainage

networks. They also critique previous spatial prioritization methods reliant on Local Sensitivity Analysis

(LSA) for being unable to handle model non-linearity or parameter interactions, and for testing only

limited implementation scenarios (Wenhui Wu et al.;2023).

Nature-Based Solutions, Green & Blue Infrastructure

The emphasis here is on how blue-green infrastructure, such as lakes, wetlands, trees, and open spaces, and

nature-based solutions can help manage storm flows and improve urban resilience. It highlights how

preserving and rehabilitating natural hydrological systems can lower runoff, enhance water quality, and

offer a number of social and ecological co-benefits in urban settings.

The argue that urban trees are a critical yet underutilized component of green infrastructure for stormwater

management. While current practice emphasizes infiltration-based systems such as rain gardens and

permeable pavements, trees reduce runoff through multiple hydrological pathways: canopy interception,

evapotranspiration, and enhanced soil infiltration. The authors highlight the need for species-specific

performance data, improved urban arboriculture, and supportive policies to integrate trees into stormwater

planning. They conclude that strategically planting and maintaining trees—especially in combination with

other green infrastructure—offers a multi-benefit approach to managing runoff while enhancing urban

ecological resilience and providing valuable co-benefits such as heat island mitigation and improved air

quality (Berland et al.;2017) This collaborative study, conducted under the COST Action CA17133,

presents a framework for applying Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) to address seven Urban Circularity

Challenges (UCC) in cities, with a focus on sustainable water management.

It identifies “Restoring and maintaining the water cycle” (UCC1) and “Water and wastewater treatment,

recovery, and reuse” (UCC2) as the core water-related challenges. Through expert workshops and case-

study analysis, the authors categorize and semi-quantitatively assess 51 NBS units (e.g., rain gardens, green

roofs, treatment wetlands) based on their ability to contribute to circularity. The paper concludes that while

individual NBS can address specific challenges, their multifunctionality and integration are key to

transitioning toward resource-efficient, circular urban water systems.

This framework is particularly relevant to Mysore City, offering a structured approach to evaluate and

integrate NBS that can simultaneously manage stormwater, enhance water reuse, and contribute to urban

resilience within a water-sensitive planning context (Oral et al.;2021) This global scoping review finds that

cities adopt watershed approaches primarily to combat water scarcity, flooding, and pollution. Successful

actions center on shifting from gray to green-blue infrastructure and rehabilitating aquatic ecosystems. The

study reveals a significant gap: while documented cases come from the Global North and Asia, there is a

lack of implemented urban examples from the Global South. This gap underscores the relevance of

investigating applied watershed management, including green infrastructure and stormwater strategies, in

cities like Mysore to address urban water challenges (Canteiro et al.;2024) This study provides a

comprehensive appraisal of Mysore's green endowments, including its parks, forests, and, most critically,

its network of lakes and water bodies.

The authors detail how the city's undulating topography and natural valleys facilitate effective drainage

and help prevent urban floods, establishing a direct link between the city's physical form and its stormwater

management. However, they document significant threats to this system, primarily from unplanned

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urbanization. Encroachment on lake catchments, blockage of natural water flow channels, siltation, and

pollution from sewage entering storm drains are severely degrading the water bodies.

The loss of these lakes and their connecting chains disturbs the natural hydrological integrity, exacerbating

flooding risks. The paper serves as a foundational case study on the pressures facing Mysore's blue-green

infrastructure, highlighting the critical need for integrated conservation to maintain natural drainage,

groundwater recharge, and overall urban climate resilience—all central concerns for water-sensitive urban

planning (Gowda, K., & Sridhara, M. V. 2014) According to the study a practical framework for

implementing Water-Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD), presenting the Dutch model of spatially integrating

water management with urban form. The editors argue for a shift from seeing water as a threat to be drained

to recognizing it as a resource and a structuring element of the city.

The study methodology of categorizing urban typologies (historic cores, post-war expansions, etc.) and

prescribing context-specific interventions—transformation, consolidation, restructuring—is particularly

valuable. For Mysore City, this source moves the study from analysis to actionable design. It provides a

transferable methodology for developing spatially tailored strategies that increase storage capacity,

enhance water quality, and improve public amenity. The Dutch case studies serve as international

benchmarks, demonstrating how the technical assessment of stormwater flows can be synthesized into

multifunctional urban design and governance solutions that are resilient to climatic variability (Hooimeijer,

F etal.;2008).

Stormwater Hydrology, Runoff Characteristics, And Water Quality

The study looks at how urban stormwater behaves hydrologically, including how runoff is generated, how

pollutants are transported, and how it affects recipient water bodies. In addition to emphasizing the

necessity of addressing non-point source pollution and cumulative watershed consequences in sustainable

stormwater planning, it draws attention to the limitations of stormwater control technologies in completely

restoring natural hydrology.

In thus study A critical limitation in urban stormwater management is the uncertain cumulative

effectiveness of distributed Stormwater Control Measures (SCMs). Analyzing multiple watersheds,

revealed that total imperviousness (TI) remained the primary control on event-scale hydrology, not SCM

implementation levels. This suggests that SCMs, as typically deployed, cannot fully restore pre-

development hydrology, highlighting a fundamental challenge in relying solely on these practices to

mitigate the impacts of urbanization (Colin D. Bell etal.;2016) This study examined the variability of

pollutant concentrations in stormwater runoff from the Santa Ana River in Southern California during the

1997–98 wet season.

Through high-frequency sampling, the authors found that seasonal flushing—where early-season storms

had significantly higher pollutant concentrations—was more pronounced than the “first flush”

effect within individual storms. Flow was the primary driver of concentration changes, and total

suspended solids (TSS) strongly correlated with trace metals.

The findings underscore the need for intensive sampling to accurately characterize stormwater quality and

inform urban runoff management. The study highlights the importance of adaptive, data-driven

stormwater management in urban areas, particularly in regions with irregular rainfall patterns. Insights

into pollutant variability can guide the design of monitoring regimes, treatment systems, and policies

aimed at reducing runoff impacts on receiving waters (Liesl L et al.;2004) The assessed the water quality

of three urban lakes (Kukkarahalli, Karanji, and Dalvoy) in Mysuru, finding severe pollution from sewage

and stormwater inflows, leading to eutrophication and poor water quality. Dalvoy Lake was the most

degraded, with critically low dissolved oxygen. The study highlights the direct impact of unmanaged

urban runoff and wastewater on water bodies, providing a critical case for integrating WSUD measures,

such as constructed wetlands and silt traps at inlets, to protect and restore Mysore's lake ecosystems within

urban planning (Adarsh et al.;2019) This study provides a critical two-year (2002-2003) analysis of the

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physicochemical water quality of Bilikere Lake, a rain-fed, perennial water body on the outskirts of

Mysore. It documents how water quality is directly impacted by land-use practices and urban/agricultural

runoff.

The research identified that nutrient levels (especially phosphate and nitrate) surged after rainfall events

due to agricultural runoff and occasional sewage inflow, leading to dense algal growth. While some

parameters varied seasonally, persistently high levels of pH, total alkalinity, and hydrogen sulphide

indicated chronic pollution, attributed to factors like sewage and inorganic nutrient discharge.

This case directly links rainfall-driven stormwater flows to the degradation of urban water bodies,

highlighting a key challenge for water-sensitive planning: managing non-point source pollution from the

catchment to prevent eutrophication and maintain water quality for ecological and potential aquacultural

uses (Sachidanandamurthy, K. L., & Yajurvedi, H. N. 2006) demonstrate how poverty-driven artisanal

gold mining catastrophically pollutes the Kpapi River in Nigeria, rendering it toxic and unusable.

Laboratory analysis revealed dangerous levels of heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Cr) and Water Quality Index

(WQI) values indicating water entirely unfit for human use.

The study links economic vulnerability to environmental degradation and policy failure, arguing that

effective, sustainable solutions require inclusive governance and legal reform rather than mere

enforcement. This case highlights a critical threat to urban water security from upstream socioeconomic

activities, underscoring the need for integrated, participatory watershed management in urban planning

(J.J. Dukiya et al.:2024).

GIS, Spatial Analysis, and Flood Vulnerability Mapping

The use of GIS and spatial analytical methods to evaluate stormwater risk, rainfall variability, and flood

susceptibility is reviewed here. It illustrates how evidence-based urban stormwater management planning

is supported by spatial decision-support tools that make it possible to identify flood-prone areas, rank

interventions, and more.

The present a methodological framework for urban flood risk assessment by integrating the Analytical

Hierarchy Process (AHP) with Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Applied to Eldoret Municipality,

Kenya, the study employs a multi-parametric approach, synthesizing causative factors such as rainfall

distribution, elevation, slope, drainage network density, land use/land cover, and soil type to create a

comprehensive flood vulnerability map. This spatial analysis culminates in an Urban Flood Risk Index

(UFRI), which quantifies risk based on vulnerability and exposure.

The proposed method was rigorously validated. Comparisons between modeled flood extents and actual

field measurements showed a high degree of accuracy, with a maximum error of 8% in area and an average

depth difference ranging from 0.01 to 0.37 meters in flood-prone zones. Furthermore, the AHP model's

consistency ratio of 0.09 confirmed the reliability of the expert judgments used in weighting the various

factors. The authors conclude that the integrated GIS-AHP model is a powerful, coherent, and efficient

tool for flood hazard zonation, achieving approximately 92% accuracy.

They position it as a vital decision-support system for urban planners and policymakers, enabling rapid

assessment and informed flood management strategies (Ouma and Tateishi 2014) This GIS-based study

analyzes rainfall variability and its impact on groundwater table fluctuations in Mysore Taluk, Karnataka,

from 2001 to 2011.

Using data from six rain gauge stations and nine observation wells, the authors applied arithmetic mean,

Thiessen polygon, and iso-hyetal methods to map spatio-temporal trends. Results indicate an average

annual rainfall of 724.83 mm, with distinct seasonal patterns and a declining trend toward the

southwestern region. Groundwater levels, influenced by rainfall and perennial rivers like the Cauvery,

showed shallow conditions in northern and southeastern areas. The study underscores the utility of GIS

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for monitoring and managing water resources in urbanizing regions like Mysore (Sharifi et al.;2016)

Decision Support Systems and Planning Tools

In order to assess, rank, and maximize stormwater management measures, this study examines decision-

support frameworks utilized in water-sensitive urban design. It draws attention to how multi-criteria

decision analysis, scenario analysis, and retrofit assessment techniques can be used to manage the trade-

offs, complexity, and multifunctionality that come with sustainable drainage planning and WSUD.

Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) poses new challenges for decision makers compared with

traditional stormwater management, primarily due to a larger selection of measures and their inherent

multifunctionality.

These challenges have spurred the development of diverse decision support tools, which can be categorized

into three main groups based on the questions they address: “How Much”-tools (quantifying hydraulic,

hydrologic, water quality, non-flow-related, and economic impacts), “Where”-tools, and “Which”-tools.

Furthermore, these tools vary significantly in the scope of water-related aspects they consider, ranging

from a narrow bio-physical focus to broader multi-criteria assessments.

Ultimately, the variability in tool design and function can be largely attributed to differences in local

contexts, such as existing stormwater system types, groundwater conditions, and legislative frameworks

Lerer (et al., 2015) The study addresses a critical gap in Water-Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) planning:

the lack of integrated frameworks to optimize green-grey infrastructure combinations using multi-

dimensional criteria.

The authors developed and applied a "score-rank-select" strategy, utilizing Multi-Criteria Decision

Analysis (MCDA) to assess five WSUD scenarios at the University of Melbourne’s Parkville campus

across functional, economic, social, and environmental aspects.A key finding was that the optimal scenario

was not the one with the highest proportion of green infrastructure (69%), but a balanced "equal grey-

green" design with 52% green facilities.

This highlights a non-linear trade-off between grey and green components, demonstrating that maximizing

one type does not guarantee superior overall performance. The authors strongly advocate for the broader

adoption of such comprehensive MCDA frameworks to support sustainable, evidence-based decision-

making in urban water management (Xiong et al.;2020) In the review evaluate the role of retrofitting

Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) in bolstering urban flood resilience. They identify green roofs,

rainwater harvesting, permeable paving, and rain gardens as the most viable retrofit options for dense cities

due to their low spatial footprint.

The study underscores that while SuDS implementation faces challenges related to cost, land ownership,

and maintenance, it provides significant co-benefits, including improved water quality, urban cooling,

biodiversity, and public amenity. The authors conclude that SuDS are not a standalone solution for extreme

events but are essential within an integrated, multi-functional urban water management framework,

requiring proactive planning and design to maximize resilience and ancillary benefits (Lamond et al.:2015).

Problem Statement

The literature assessment above identifies important knowledge gaps regarding solid-waste interactions,

rainfall variability, stormwater system performance, and their incorporation into Mysuru City's statutory

urban planning frameworks. The issue this study attempts to solve is defined by these gaps taken together.

Stormwater management issues in Indian cities have gotten worse due to rapid urbanization and rising

climate variability, which frequently results in flooding, drainage issues, and the deterioration of urban

water bodies.

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Mysuru City has seen increasing stormwater stress despite historically low rainfall because of land-use

change, increased rainfall intensity, rising rainfall unpredictability, and disturbance of natural hydrological

processes. Due to shifting urban and climatic conditions, the stormwater infrastructure that is now in

place—which was primarily created using traditional rapid-drainage principles—has grown progressively

insufficient.

Urban flooding, groundwater fluctuations, and rainfall trends in and around Mysuru have all been the

subject of several studies, yet these studies are still dispersed. An integrated, city-scale analysis that clearly

connects long-term rainfall variability to land-use change, drainage system performance, flood

susceptibility, and stormwater flow behavior is lacking. Furthermore, no single hydrological and planning

framework has been used to objectively assess the deterioration and encroachment of interconnected urban

lakes, ridge-valley systems, and natural drainage corridors.

Despite being widely marketed as successful strategies for climate-resilient stormwater management,

Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD), Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS), and Nature-Based

Solutions (NBS) are still not widely used in Indian cities and are mostly unrelated to the formal urban

planning procedures. Stormwater management in Mysuru is still mostly handled as an engineering function,

with little incorporation into institutional governance, zoning laws, master planning, and development

control.

This problem is made worse by inadequate solid-waste management, which has been identified as a

recurring but unaddressed cause of localized flooding, decreased hydraulic capacity, and blocked drains.

An integrated, planning-oriented assessment that incorporates field-based data, long-term climate analysis,

spatial evaluation of stormwater infrastructure and natural drainage systems, and WSUD principles is

therefore desperately needed. Repositioning stormwater management as a fundamental urban planning

function and creating climate-responsive, sustainable, and context-specific plans to improve flood

resilience and environmental sustainability in Mysuru City depend on closing this gap.

Study Area

The Study Area is Mysuru city, the Mysore City which is the Second largest city adjacent to Bangaluru in

the state of Karnataka with a Population of 9.21 Lakhs (as per 2011 census). Mysuru City was the capital

of the former princely state of Mysore it the second single largest City and also it is the district

headquarters of Mysore districts situated in the southernmost direction of Kamataka, state and it is located

in the south-western direction from Bangalore at a distance of 140 km the city is well connected by the

transport modes of rail road and Air.

The total geographical area of Mysuru Local Planning area is 6330700 hectares and proposed conurbation

area of 50900 hectares the Mysore city has many major water bodies located in a well define bridges and

valleys the water bodies are KRS Dam, Kukkarahalli Lake, Lingambudi Lake, Devanoor Lake, Dalvoy

Lake, Karanji Lake, In Mysore City, the most prominent valley is the Chamundi Hills.

These hills located at the foothills of Mysore, offer stunning views and are home to the Sri Chamundeshwari

Temple.It encompasses an area of 6307 sqkm and a population of 30,01,127. Mysuru is located in the

southern part of the Deccan plateau. Mysuru has a warm and cool climate throughout the climate of mysuru

is moderate. The minimum temperature in winter is around 15 degrees celsius and in summer the maximum

temperature is around 35 degrees celsius. 86 centimeters is average annual rainfall.

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Figure 1: Study area map of Mysuru City

Source: Compiled by the authors

METHODOLOGY AND MATERIALS

Research Design and Approach

The study adopts a mixed-method, water-sensitive urban planning framework integrating quantitative

rainfall for the 35 Years and hydrological analysis with qualitative field-based urban drainage

assessment. The methodology is structured to examine the interaction between long-term rainfall

variability, urban land-use transformation, and stormwater drainage performance in Mysore City.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS), hydrological estimation techniques, and extensive field

observations are combined to generate spatially explicit and planning-relevant insights. Primary data were

collected through extensive field surveys across all municipal zones of Mysore City, including J.P. Nagar,

Jayanagar, Kuvempunagara, Vijayanagar, Gokulam, Udayagiri, Bannimantap, and major arterial

corridors. The methodological approach is guided by the principles of Water-Sensitive Urban Design and

Planning (WSUDP), emphasizing source control, integration of blue–green infrastructure, and alignment

of urban form with natural hydrological systems.

Data Collection

The study uses a mixed-methods strategy to gather data, integrating primary field research, secondary data,

and spatial data to thoroughly examine Mysuru City's rainfall variability, stormwater drainage

performance, solid waste impacts, and water-sensitive urban development approaches.The India

Meteorological Department and state agencies were among the official meteorological sources from which

secondary data on long-term rainfall, temperature, and relative humidity were gathered in order to evaluate

the climatic trends and temporal variability affecting stormwater formation.

Using reports, maps, and design documents, data on solid waste management procedures, lake catchments,

natural drainage systems, and stormwater drainage networks were gathered from Mysuru City Corporation,

Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board, Mysuru Urban Development Authority, and

associated departments.

With an emphasis on drain condition, encroachment, waste accumulation, flow obstruction, and

connectivity with lakes and natural valleys, primary data were collected through methodical field surveys

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and site observations throughout chosen wards and drainage corridors. This information was bolstered by

photographic documentation and field notes. Furthermore, stakeholder interactions with local people,

sanitation professionals, and municipal officials offered contextual information about trash disposal habits,

drainage maintenance procedures, and areas that frequently flood.

Physical features were mapped, encroachments were identified, and the spatial relationship between urban

growth, blue-green infrastructure, and stormwater flow patterns was examined using spatial and GIS data,

such as base maps, land-use layers, drainage lines, lake extents, and satellite imagery. Triangulation was

used to cross-validate data from several sources to guarantee consistency and dependability, enhancing the

analysis's and the conclusions' resilience.

Stormwater drainage Statues and challenges in Mysore City

The primary challenge arises from the need to reconcile the natural micro-topography with the engineered

urban grid. The inferred north-easterly natural flow vector does not align directly with the rectangular street

layout, requiring a network of drains and channels to artificially convey water along road corridors before

it can be discharged to a larger outlet. This indirect routing increases complexity and potential points of

failure within the system.

This situation is critically exacerbated by the pervasive impervious surfaces—rooftops, roads, and

pavements—that define the developed urban layout. These surfaces drastically reduce ground infiltration

and instead accelerate the generation of surface runoff during rainfall events. The resulting increase in both

the volume and the speed of runoff places continuous and significant pressure on the capacity and

responsiveness of the subsurface drainage network.

Finally, the functionality of the entire local drainage system is contingent upon the condition and capacity

of its ultimate outfall. The stormwater from this catchment is likely destined for a larger natural or

engineered outlet to the north or northeast, such as the Bogadi lake system or channels leading to the

Lakshmanathirtha River basin.

Any restriction or bottleneck at this downstream point can induce backwater effects, compromising

drainage efficiency upstream and heightening flood risk within the Bannimantap layout itself. Mysuru City

has been experiencing increasing challenges related to urban stormwater drainage, driven by rapid

urbanization, land-use transformation, and changing rainfall patterns. Although the city possesses a

historically evolved network of natural drainage channels, tanks, and lakes, these systems have been

progressively degraded, encroached upon, and disconnected from contemporary urban development. As a

result, stormwater flow paths have been altered, leading to frequent waterlogging, localized flooding, and

environmental degradation.

Field observations across different parts of the city reveal that stormwater drains are heavily obstructed by

solid waste, silt deposition, and vegetation growth, significantly reducing their hydraulic capacity. In many

locations, stormwater drains function as open sewage channels due to illegal wastewater connections,

causing severe water pollution and public health risks.

Furthermore, unplanned construction and infrastructure development along drain corridors have resulted

in narrowed or blocked channels, disrupting natural flow continuity and increasing runoff accumulation

during intense rainfall events.

The existing drainage infrastructure in Mysuru is largely designed based on outdated rainfall assumptions

and does not adequately account for recent trends of short-duration, high-intensity rainfall. The absence of

an integrated, rainfall-responsive stormwater management framework has limited the city’s ability to cope

with increasing peak runoff, particularly in low-lying and densely built-up areas. Additionally, the lack of

water-sensitive urban planning principles, such as infiltration, detention, and nature-based solutions, has

further exacerbated surface runoff and reduced groundwater recharge.

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Figure 2: Storm Water Drains, Mysore

Source: filed visit Compiled by the authors

Storm Water Drainage in Mysore City

The Topography of the Mysore is defined by sequences of well-defined natural Valleys that radiates from

the ridge on high ground profile and slop gradually in all the direction. It is noted that the general slope is

North to South. The general ground elevation of the city is ranging from North West to North East portion

with level difference of 40mt. Likewise North to South with variation in altitude of 25mt. Storm water from

Mysore city and its out-growth trace clearly defined twelve prominent valleys. North and Northeastern part

of Mysore city valleys like Kesare, Yadavgiri, Kumbarakoppalu, Hebbal, R S Naidu nagar Kalyanagiri etc

are draining in to the Cauvery River following passage through the sequence of tanks or nalas. Likewise

the rest of the south, south east and south west part valleys are draining in to the Kabini River.

The whole city drains into three valleys, viz. northern outfall into Kesare valley, and the other outfalls. to

the south, one into Dalvai tank feeder valley and another to Lingambudi tank valley.North outfall sweeps

away the zone of Narasimharaja Mohalla, Jalapuri, Eeranagere and part of Mandi Mohalla, Medar's Block

and Yadavagiri Railway Colony, areas of Vanivilasa Puram and Kumbarakoppal all in and around the

city.The second outfall serves to drain the locality of part of Chamaraja, Nazarbad and Lashkar Mohalla

and the whole locality of Fort Mohalla and Krishnaraja Mohalla The third outfall draining the region of

parts of

Devaraja and Chamaraja Mohallas merges into the Lingambudi tank valley without treatment. The new

areas in the Western side of Kuvempunagar drain south-west of Lingambudi tank. The arrangement in this

valley is under development. It drains the area of V.V. Mohalla, Jayalakshmi Puram, Padavarahally,

Saraswathipuram, K.G. Koppal, Jayanagar, Thonachikoppal, Chikkaharadanahally and Srirampura. The

fourth outfall drains to Belavatha village. and extends to the area like Yadavagiri, Hebbal layout, Metagalli,

Brindavan extension, a part of Gokulam and Bannimantap layout.

The city's topography causes waste water to flow into three valleys: the Malalavadi tank valley, the Dalvai

tank feeder valley to the south, and the Kesare valley to the north. The northern ones drain the regions of

Vanivilasa Puram, Kumbapal, Medar's block, Yadavagiri Railway colony, Jalapuri, Eeranagere, and a

portion of Mandi Mohalla. However, despite the completion of the drainage work in each of the

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aforementioned places, none of them have been connected to the main drain. Currently, the storm water

drains and natural valleys receive the wastewater from these locations. The manholes used to divert water

for irrigation are being blocked by the owners of the gardens and other properties next to the main line.

There are three large, 4-5 m wide drains throughout the city. The storm water drainage (SWD) network in

Mysore is 1200 km long overall. 500 kilometers of SWD are covered out of this. Although a system of

inspection is in place to keep an eye on cleanliness Along with the accumulation of street debris, silt is a

significant problem for SWDs. This silt buildup results in the SWDs overflowing. Heavy rains frequently

cause flooding in Devraj Urs. road in the Chamundi highlands of Agrahara. That being said, Mysore's

southern region is better off and does not flood.

Catchment area of Mysore City

Table 1: Catchment area

Source: DPR-Storm Water Drains, Mysore

Map representing storm water drains in Mysore city

Figure 3: Storm Water Drains

Source: DPR-Storm Water Drains, Mysore

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Areas vulnerable to flooding and disaster readiness

Plain land makes up the majority of Mysore city, while there are undoubtedly some places with natural

slopes and height variances. The highest and lowest points have elevations between 800 and 710 meters,

while the Chamundi hill and its surroundings have elevations between 710 and 1025 meters. The city's

average elevation is 767 meters above mean sea level.

During the reconnaissance study and subsequent conversations with MCC engineers in order to prepare

the DPR on Strom Water Drains, Mysore, critical low-lying areas were discovered.

In Mysore, there are several ponds, ditches, low-lying areas, and water bodies that act as retention basins

to lessen the severity of floods and manage flood damage during periods of high precipitation.as showing

in the below figure.

Areas vulnerable to flooding and disaster readiness

Plain land makes up the majority of Mysore city, while there are undoubtedly some places with natural

slopes and height variances.

The highest and lowest points have elevations between 800 and 710 meters, while the Chamundi hill and

its surroundings have elevations between 710 and 1025 meters. The city's average elevation is 767 meters

above mean sea level.

During the reconnaissance study and subsequent conversations with MCC engineers in order to prepare

the DPR on Strom Water Drains, Mysore, critical low-lying areas were discovered.

In Mysore, there are several ponds, ditches, low-lying areas, and water bodies that act as retention basins

to lessen the severity of floods and manage flood damage during periods of high precipitation.as showing

in the below figure.

Low-lying areas of Mysore city

Table 2: Low-lying areas

Source: DPR-Storm Water Drains, Mysore

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Figure 3: low-lying areas

Source: DPR-Storm Water Drains, Mysore

Map representing low-lying areas in Mysore city

Major reasons for flooding in the low-lying areas

1. Destructing natural drains by unscientific planning in land development activities.

2. Thick vegetation everywhere.

3. Tiny drain opening.

4. Discharging solid waste in places with low elevation.

5. The drains' silt.

6. Storm water drains being used to discharge sewage.

7. The flat drain bed in flood-prone locations.

8. Poor upkeep of drainage network systems such as sewer pipes and manholes.

9. An improperly configured tertiary network.

10. Residential building floor levels frequently fall well below drain levels.

Management of water bodies in Mysore City

The MCC boundary encompasses 14th water bodies, including Hinkel Kere, Hebbal Kere,

Manchegowdana Koppalu Kere, Devanur Kere, Kythamaranahalli Kere, Karanji Kere, Gobli Kere,

Dalavoy Kere, Rayara Kere, Tayappana Kere (Bogadhi Kere), Mariyappana Kere, Lingambudhi Kere,

Kukkarahalli Kere, and Srirampura Kere. All of the current water bodies were disregarded and

unmaintained by the government until recently.Mysore City Corporation, Mysore Urban Development

Authority (MUDA), and the Minor Irrigation Department are responsible for maintaining the lakes. Some

of the lakes are used for recreational activities like boating and bird watching, while the water bodies are

useful for irrigation. Just two tanks, Kukarahalli Kere and Karanji Kere, were recently desilted, removed

for government upkeep, and put to use for recreational and boating purposes. In the space designated for

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buffer zones, layouts have been permitted to develop and certain water bodies have been encroached.

There are several significant problems with water bodies, such as careless debris disposal, tank area

encroachment, severe siltation, thick vegetation growth, a lot of raw sewage entering, etc., which cause

flooding and worsen the quality of ground water.

Figure 4: Storm Water Drains, Mysore

Source: filed visit Compiled by the authors

Figure 5: storm water drainage network

Source: DPR-Storm Water Drains, Mysore

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Map showing the storm water drainage network and the water bodies, Mysore

Two of the tanks—Kukarahalli Kere and Karanji Kere—were recently desilted, removed for government

upkeep, and put to use for recreational and boating purposes. The remaining water bodies are not kept up

to date. In the buffer zones, layouts have been permitted to develop. Flooding and a decline in the quality

of the ground water are caused by indiscriminate debris disposal, tank area encroachment, severe siltation,

dense vegetation growth, plenty of raw sewage entering, etc.

Inferred Stormwater flows Assessment in Mysore City

This assessment constructs a hydrological profile for a specific urban catchment in western Mysuru by

interpreting geospatial data points within their physical and infrastructural context. By plotting these points

and applying principles of urban hydrology, we can deduce the likely behaviour of stormwater in this

locale. The spatial relationship between the points reveals a subtle but meaningful northward progression

in latitude over a distance of roughly 700 meters. This pattern suggests a gentle topographic gradient toward

the north-northeast, establishing the fundamental directional bias for all stormwater flow within this micro-

catchment. In a natural setting, water would follow this slope as diffuse overland flow. Here, the natural

flow vector intersects with the rigid geometry of the urban grid. Stormwater runoff, generated rapidly from

roofs, roads, and pavements, is captured and confined by the street network. It is initially conveyed along

road surfaces before entering a subsurface drainage system of covered side drains and pipes. The efficiency

of this entire engineered conveyance network becomes the single most critical factor governing flood risk.

Its performance is contingent on original design capacity, current structural integrity, and, most

dynamically, the level of routine maintenance.

The ultimate destination for this water is inferred to be a major natural drainage line to the northeast, likely

a channel feeding into the Bogadi Lake system or the Lakshmanathirtha River basin. Consequently, the

hydraulic capacity of the entire upstream network is vulnerable to conditions at this outfall and at every

point along the system.

The primary vulnerabilities for this area are therefore not hypothetical but are typical of mature urban

layouts. Localized ponding is most expected at topographic depressions within the road network, such as

sag points or intersections, where blocked or insufficient inlets cannot capture runoff quickly enough. A

more systemic risk exists at hydraulic bottlenecks, where multiple smaller drains converge into a single

collector. If this collector is undersized, silted, or obstructed, it can create a backwater effect, causing

flooding to propagate upstream through the connected drainage channels. Chronic blockages from silt and

solid waste, coupled with the relentless volume of runoff from impervious areas, represent the most

probable failure mechanisms. This inferred assessment, while reasoned, remains a hypothesis grounded in

spatial analysis and urban hydrological principles. It should be validated through specific actions. A

detailed topographic survey would precisely define the micro-watershed, while mapping the actual drain

sizes, conditions, and connections against the inferred flow paths is essential. The most insightful validation

would come from field observations during or immediately after a rainfall event, visually tracing the actual

overland flow and identifying points of accumulation or drain overflow.

The resulting management strategy must be twofold. First, a rigorous and enforced maintenance regime

focused on pre-monsoon desilting and continuous clearance of inlets and drains along the key north-

easterly flow path is non-negotiable. Second, source control measures, such as widespread adoption of

rainwater harvesting to reduce runoff volume at the plot level, are crucial for long-term resilience.

The stormwater dynamics in Bannimantap exemplify the classic urban challenge. The flood risk arises

from the interaction between a natural gentle slope, an aging or constrained drainage grid, and the

accelerated runoff volumes characteristic of paved environments. The key to mitigation lies in leveraging

the inferred flow direction to prioritize maintenance and in complementing grey infrastructure with

sustainable practices that manage water at its source.

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Climate of Mysuru City

The city enjoys cool and equable temperature. Mysore shares the wider climatic pattern of the state as a

whole, although there are some distinctive features. The climate of the district described is essentially

tropical monsoon type, which is a product of the interplay of the two opposing air masses of the southwest

and northeast monsoons. Mysuru has a tropical savanna environment with moderate to nice weather all

year. The summers (March to May) are warm but not scorching, with temperatures ranging from 20°C to

35°C. The monsoon season (June to September) offers modest rain, revitalizing the landscape and filling

the lakes. Winter (October to February) is warm, with temperatures ranging from 15°C to 30°C, making it

a popular time for tourism.

The city's rich greenery is aided by its generally stable and temperate climate, which makes it an ideal

location for agricultural and population. Mysore has a semi-arid climate with three main seasons: summer

(March to June), monsoon season (July to November), and winter (December to February). Mysore's

highest recorded Temperature was 38.5 °C (101 °F) on May 4, 2006, and its lowest was 7.7 °C (46 °F) on

January 16, 2012.The city yearly rainfall average 804.2 mm.

Rainfall of Mysuru City

The variation in the annual rainfall from year to year is not large during the 85 years from 1901 to 1985,

the highest annual rainfall amounting to 156 per cent of the annual rainfall that occurred in 1903 and the

lowest occurred in 1918. In the same 85-year period, the annual rainfall was less than 80 per cent of the

normal rainfall in 7 years, none of them consecutive, considering the rainfall at the individual stations.

However, two or three consecutive years of good rainfall occurred once or twice at fifty-two out of sixty-

five rain gauge stations. It has been observed that the average annual rainfall in the district was between

600 mm and 900 mm in 66 years out of the 85 years.

Table 3: Rainfall Data

Source: India Meteorological Department

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The Rainfalls characteristics of the Mysuru City are

The city's temperature ranges from 16°C to 27°C in the winter and from 27°C to 35°C in the sweltering

summer. Approximately 800 mm of rain falls on average each year. March to June is the summer season,

which is followed by July to November for the monsoon season and December to February for the winter

season.

Monsoon Dominance: Mysore experiences a monsoon-influenced climate.

Rainy Months: The city receives most of its rainfall during the monsoon months, which are June, July,

August, and October.

Dry Season: The months of January, February, and March are relatively dry. Hottest Month: April is the

hottest month, with an average maximum temperature of 35°C. Wettest Month: July tops the list with an

average rainfall of 171 mm.

Driest Month: January has the least precipitation, with only 4 mm of rainfall.

Sunniest Month: January enjoys an average of 305 hours of sunshine.

Mysore’s climate transitions from sparse rainfall to heavy showers, with March marking the onset of the

rainy season. By October, the city experiences its highest rainfall of 159 mm123.

Temperature

Temperature influences considerably the socio-economic activities of the people in a region. The district

in general enjoys cool and equable temperature. In the period from March to May, there is a continuous

rise in temperature. April is the hottest month with the mean daily maximum temperature at 35°C and the

daily minimum at 21°C.

Humidity

Relative humidity is generally high during the southwest monsoon season. Relative humidity is about 70

per cent throughout the year, while in the afternoons, humidity is comparatively Lower except during the

southwest monsoon. The period January to April is the driest part of the year with relative humidity of

about 30 per cent and still lower in the afternoons.

SOIL, GEOLOGY AND HYDROLOGY

Soil is a natural resource, forms base for growth of natural vegetation, agriculture crops, horticulture

plantation and fodder. The soils of the districts can broadly be classified as laterite, red loam, sandy loam,

red clay and black cotton soils. The laterite soil occurs mostly in the western part of the district while the

red loam soils are found in the northwest. In the talukas of T. Narsipur and Nanjangud, there is deep red

loam occasionally interspersed with black soils. The red soils are shallow to deep well drained and do not

contain lime nodules. The black soils are 1 to 1.5 meter in bases with good water holding capacity for a

longer time. Mysore City, which is located in the southern Deccan Plateau, is a rolling tableland with

beautiful trees encircling it and granite outcrops in some places.

This district contains red soils (red gravelly loam, red loam, red gravelly clay, and red clay soil), deep black

soil, lateritic soil, saline alluvo-colluvial soil, and brown forest soil. The following minerals were

discovered: graphite, limestone, dolomite, siliconite, dunite, kyanite, sillimanite, quartz, magnesite,

chromite, soapstone, felsite, corundum, and graphite. The city of Mysore gets its drinking water from the

Cauvery and Kabini rivers, which are located between them. There are many lakes in Mysore, but the

Kukkarahalli, Karanji, and Lingambudhi lakes, as well as the Devanoor and Dalavai lakes, are the most

notable. The greater portion of the city is divided into three distinct catchment areas by three of the four

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main catchments: Dalavoy Kere, Shetty Kere (Yenne Hole Kere), and Devayyanahundi Kere

(Lingambudhi Kere). These catchments generally run from north to south.separate areas for drainage. The

drainage zone north of the ridge is formed by a fourth main catchment, known as the Bannimantap

watershed (Devaraya Canal basin), which runs northeast. Two other minor catchments, Hebbal Kere and

Kempayyanahundi Kere, drain out separately.

Figure 7: Soil Map of Mysuru City

Source: Compiled by the authors using QGIS.

Topography and natural characteristics of the city

Mysuru's geography is mainly flat, but it does include a few significant hills, the most famous of which is

Chamundi Hill, which rises around 1,000 meters (3,281 feet) above sea level. Chamundi Hill is a notable

landmark not only for its height, but also for its religious significance, as it houses the Chamundeshwari

Temple, a prominent pilgrimage site.The environment near Mysuru is largely composed of fertile plains

excellent for agriculture, particularly sugarcane, rice, and other crops. The city is located in the rain-shadow

region of the Western Ghats, which results in modest rainfall, but it has good monsoon seasons, especially

during the southwest monsoon between June and September.

Figure 8: Slope Gradient Map of Mysuru City

Source: Compiled by the authors using QGIS

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Groundwater Potential in Mysore City

Mysore has immense ground water potential which is at an elevation of more than 600 meters and is nearly

entirely composed of hard crystalline rocks which are impermeable to water. Conditions conducive to the

accumulation of rich supplies of ground water as in unconsolidated sedimentary deposits are essentially

lacking in Mysore. Nevertheless, there is in general a mantle of loose soil and decomposed rocks with a

thickness ranging from a thin film to as much as 30 meters. The average thickness of the capping is perhaps

15 meters. This zone of decomposition is made up of sufficiently permeable porous material having

capacity to retain up to three gallons per cubic foot and serves as reservoir of ground water. Water level is

not very far from the surface in the last week of October. Its level gradually gets depleted and becomes

minimum in the months of March-April. Level begins to pick up following the onset of rains in June. The

variation in water level in Mysore ranges from three to four meters.

Seasonal Groundwater Fluctuation:

Mysore groundwater shows a clear seasonal fluctuation:

Post-monsoon season (October): The water levels are at their maximum, usually near the surface.

Dry season (March–April): Levels reduce to their minimum, mainly caused by evapotranspiration and

sustained withdrawal.

Commencement of Monsoon (June onwards): Recharge commences, and groundwater levels start

increasing.

The normal annual change in groundwater levels varies between 3 to 4 meters depending on local

geological conditions, precipitation, and extraction rates.

Figure 9: Groundwater Potential map of Mysuru City

Source: Compiled by the authors using QGIS

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Surface Water Resources in Mysore City

Mysore has a number of significant surface water bodies that not only play hydrological roles but also help

in the ecological balance, microclimate regulation, and recreational value of the city.In Mysore City Some

of the large tanks such as Karanji Tank, Lingambudi Tank, Dalvay Tank and Kukkarahally Tank, etc.

fall within urban boundaries, along with some minor water bodies. All water bodies have been suggested

to be retained to ensure environmental and ecological balances and also for recreational activities. The total

area of all these is 182.65 hectares and amounts to 2.41% of the total area (CDP Report, p. 64).

Mysore has the credit of being one of the very few cities in India to approach the standard by providing

around 40 gallons of purified water per day per head. It has been possible because of some locational and

physiographic conditions of Mysore which have decided the availability of water and the ease with which

it would be tapped. The principal source of water are river Cauvery supplemented by borewells

Major Urban Water Bodies

A number of major tanks and lakes are found within the urban boundary of Mysore, including:

1. Karanji Tank

2. Lingambudi Tank

3. Dalvay Tank

4. Kukkarahally Tank

Besides the major lakes, several small ponds and minor water bodies are distributed across the city, as

shown in Figure.

Figure 10: Surface Water bodies map of Mysuru City

Source: Compiled by the authors using QGIS

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Figure 11: Major Lakes of Mysuru City

Source: field survey Compiled by the authors

Figure 12: Major Lakes of Mysuru City

Source: field survey Compiled by the authors

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The empirical results of the study on climate trends and their consequences for stormwater management

and urban design in Mysuru City are presented and discussed in this part. The findings are categorized

into three thematic subsections based on long-term meteorological data and field observations: (i) noticed

climate trends impacting stormwater behavior, (ii) the consequences of these climate changes for drainage

design and urban heat stress, and (iii) field-based proof of drainage failure brought on by solid waste

accumulation and its planning implications.

Climate Trends Affecting Mysuru City's Stormwater Behavior

Significant changes in important climatic parameters influencing stormwater dynamics in Mysuru City

are shown by an analysis of centurial and long-term meteorological data. With rainfall mostly

concentrated between June and September and secondary precipitation during the post-monsoon months,

the city's climate is defined by a tropical monsoon regime affected by the southwest and northeast

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monsoons. But the rainfall regime is becoming more variable and irregular, which indicates a departure

from seasonal patterns that can be predicted.

Annual rainfall totals exhibit significant inter-annual fluctuation, with alternating years of surplus and

deficit, according to a review of climate data covering the years 1990–2025. Despite a limited long-term

trend in mean annual rainfall, there has been more unpredictability in rainfall and a greater occurrence of

short-duration, high-intensity downpour events in recent decades. Since severe rainfall over shorter

periods of time results in larger peak runoff volumes that beyond the capacity of traditional urban drainage

systems, this shift has significant ramifications for stormwater creation. Contradictory patterns in

minimum and maximum temperatures are shown by temperature analysis. There is a noticeable upward

trend in annual maximum temperatures, especially after 2015, which suggests that urban heat intensity is

growing. Minimum temperatures, on the other hand, show more fluctuation and a little downward trend.

Increased heat absorption by impermeable surfaces, decreased vegetation cover, urbanization, and

changes in land use are all contributing factors to this growing diurnal temperature range. Strong seasonal

fluctuation in relative humidity, with greater values during the monsoon months and an overall upward

annual trend, suggests that variations in rainfall and urban surface characteristics are linked to changes in

atmospheric moisture conditions.

Climate Trends' Effects on Urban Heat Stress and Drainage Design

The effectiveness and sufficiency of Mysuru City's stormwater infrastructure are directly impacted by the

noted climatic patterns. Higher peak discharge happens over shorter time periods as a result of fewer wet

days and more intense rainfall episodes. Unfortunately, a large number of stormwater drains that are

currently in use were created using static design standards and antiquated rainfall assumptions that do not

account for the diversity of the climate today. This imbalance between drainage capacity and hydrological

demand leads to localized floods, overtopping, and frequent surcharge. Urban environmental stress is

made worse by rising maximum temperatures and rising relative humidity. While decreased green cover

and increased imperviousness restrict infiltration and evapotranspiration, elevated surface temperatures

amplify the consequences of urban heat islands. These elements lessen the city's innate ability to control

the water and heat cycles in addition to increasing surface runoff quantities. The results emphasize the

necessity of climate-responsive drainage design guidelines that combine water-sensitive urban planning

techniques and blue-green infrastructure to manage stormwater and reduce urban heat.

Solid Waste–Induced Drainage Failure: Field Evidence and Planning Implications

In the Field assessments carried out in several awards show that organic waste, silt, plastic garbage, and

building debris are among the solid waste materials that continue to accumulate in stormwater drains.

Drains that were partially or totally obstructed were discovered in a number of places, which greatly

decreased hydraulic efficiency. Drainage malfunction is largely caused by operational and maintenance

issues rather than design flaws, as these obstructions were seen even in drains with sufficient physical

dimensions.

Urban flooding and improper solid waste management are clearly and consistently linked, according to

the data. During rainstorm events, waste buildup impedes flow routes, results in water stagnation, and

causes backflow and overtopping. Despite this persistent problem, solid waste management and

stormwater drainage are treated as distinct industries in the Mysuru Master Plan and other statutory

planning documents. One significant institutional gap is the lack of integrated planning provisions

addressing drainage failure caused by garbage.

The results emphasize that infrastructure improvements by themselves will not be effective unless solid

waste management is addressed as a crucial part of stormwater planning. This emphasizes how important

it is to implement a Water-Sensitive Urban Planning and Design (WSUPD) framework that unifies

planning by incorporating waste management, drainage design, land-use control, and climate adaptation.

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Synthesis

The findings show that a combination of governance, infrastructure, and climate factors causes urban

flooding in Mysuru City. Although rising temperatures and shifting rainfall patterns raise hydrological

stress, field data shows that fragmented planning and solid waste blockages greatly enhance the risk of

flooding.

In order to overcome these obstacles, integrated, climate-responsive, and water-sensitive urban planning

techniques must replace discrete engineering solutions.

An Analysis of Climate Dynamics and Meteorological Trends in Mysuru City (1990–2025)

This analysis examines the long-term climatic trends in Mysuru City over a 35-year period from 1990 to

2025. The dataset comprises key meteorological variables, including annual total rainfall (mm), minimum

and maximum temperatures (°C), and the range of relative humidity (%). By observing these parameters,

we can identify patterns, shifts, and potential anomalies in the region's climate, which may be indicative

of broader environmental changes.

The following sections will explore trends in precipitation, thermal characteristics, and humidity levels to

derive insights into the climatic dynamics of Mysuru City during this timeframe.

Table 4: Meteorological Data for Mysuru City (1990–2025)

Source: Compiled by the authors

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Variability in Minimum and Maximum Temperature

Figure 13: Minimum and Maximum Annual Temperature Mysuru City

Source: Compiled by the authors

In the above figure shows Minimum and maximum air temperatures are key indicators of local climatic

variability and long-term climate change. The analysis of annual minimum and maximum temperature

data for Mysuru City over the study period reveals distinct interannual variability and contrasting long-

term trends. The annual minimum temperature exhibits noticeable fluctuations throughout the period, with

values generally ranging between approximately 15 °C and 22 °C. Despite short-term variability, the trend

line for minimum temperature indicates an overall decreasing tendency. This decline suggests cooler

nighttime or early-morning conditions in certain years, which may be influenced by factors such as

changes in cloud cover, rainfall patterns, wind circulation, and local land–atmosphere interactions.In

contrast, the annual maximum temperature shows a clear increasing (positive) trend over the study period.

Maximum temperatures rise from around 29–30 °C in the early years to values exceeding 40 °C in recent

years, particularly after 2015.

The upward trend, supported by the fitted linear regression line, indicates an increase in extreme daytime

temperatures and heat intensity in Mysuru City. The divergence between decreasing minimum

temperatures and increasing maximum temperatures points to a widening diurnal temperature range,

which is often associated with urbanization, land-use change, reduction in vegetation cover, and increased

heat retention by built-up surfaces. These changes can enhance daytime heating while altering nocturnal

cooling processes.

20.9

21.2

22.1

22.2

22.3

22.5

21.3

21.2

20.4

19.8

17.6

16.1

17.2

18.9

19.4

18.9

18.3

18.8

18.6

18.7

20.3

20.2

20.5

19.5

19.8

19.9

19.8

19.1

29.8

29.9

29.8

29.7

32.5

32.7

32.6

31.2

29.3

29.2

29.6

30.3

29.8

28.2

32.4

33.2

40.9

39.2

40.9

40.2

39.8

39.6

40.6

y = 0.2182x + 28.161

R² = 0.3026

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Temperature (C)

Year

Maximum and Minimum Annual Temperature of Mysuru City (1990–2025)

MINTEMP( °C) MAXTEMP( °C)

Linear (MINTEMP( °C)) Linear (MINTEMP( °C))

Linear (MAXTEMP( °C)) Linear (MAXTEMP( °C))

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Overall, the observed variability and trends in minimum and maximum temperatures reflect changing

local climatic conditions in Mysuru City. The rising maximum temperatures have important implications

for urban heat stress, water demand, evapotranspiration rates, and stormwater dynamics, while declining

minimum temperatures may affect ecological processes and human thermal comfort. These findings are

significant for sustainable urban planning, climate-resilient infrastructure design, and long-term

environmental management strategies.

Variability in Rainfall

Rainfall Data Collection and Analysis:

Figure 14: Annual Rainfall of Mysuru City

Source: Compiled by the authors

Above figure describe the Long-term daily rainfall data for Mysore City and its surrounding region were

obtained from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) for a continuous period of 35 years. The

dataset was processed to derive annual, seasonal and extreme rainfall indicators. Analysis of long-term

rainfall data for Mysuru City (1990–2025) indicates high inter-annual variability with substantial

fluctuations between deficit and surplus rainfall years in the above Figure. Annual rainfall ranges from

less than 450 mm in low-rainfall years to more than 1,000 mm during extreme rainfall events, reflecting

significant temporal variability rather than a stable rainfall regime.

442.7

943.2

885

704.2

1070.5

734.8

838.4

960.1

708.9

960.6

962.8

812.3

582.8

675.1

809.3

1050.5

738

821.1

756.7

880.6

996

784

423.9

645.7

812.3

880.1

415.8

914.2

900.5

955.5

818.5

956.4

1316.2

837

935

1060

y = 3.8342x + 762.09

R² = 0.0471

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Rainfall in (MM)

Year

“Annual Rainfall of Mysuru City (1990–2025)”

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The linear trend in annual rainfall shows only a marginal increasing tendency, supported by a very low

coefficient of determination (R² = 0.047), indicating that the trend is statistically weak. This suggests that

year-to-year variability dominates over long-term changes in mean annual rainfall. Decadal analysis reveals

increasing rainfall fluctuations in recent decades, with more frequent extreme rainfall events observed after

2010.Seasonal assessment shows an increasing trend in monthly rainfall, while monsoon rainfall exhibits

a declining or inconsistent pattern, suggesting a redistribution of rainfall across seasons. This shift is

characterized by fewer rainy days and higher rainfall intensity over shorter durations.

Overall, although no strong long-term trend is observed in annual average rainfall, the increasing

variability and occurrence of extreme rainfall events pose significant challenges to urban drainage

systems and increase the risk of urban flooding in Mysuru City.

Variability in Relative Humidity (RH)

Figure 15: Annual Relative Humidity (RH)of Mysuru City

Source: Compiled by the authors

The above figure shows the annul Relative Humidity (RH) is defined as the ratio of the actual amount of

water vapour present in the atmosphere to the maximum amount of water vapour the air can hold at a

given temperature, expressed as a percentage. Higher relative humidity values indicate a more moisture-

laden air mass.

The analysis of monthly relative humidity data for Mysuru City reveals distinct seasonal variability. A

declining trend in RH is observed from January to April, corresponding to the dry pre-monsoon period.

During these months, higher air temperatures, increased solar radiation, and limited rainfall lead to

enhanced evaporation and reduced atmospheric moisture content, resulting in lower relative humidity

levels.

From May onwards, relative humidity begins to increase, with a pronounced rise during the monsoon

season. This increase can be attributed to the onset of southwest monsoon winds, higher rainfall intensity,

increased cloud cover, and reduced temperature fluctuations, all of which contribute to greater

atmospheric moisture availability. Peak RH values are generally observed during the monsoon and post-

monsoon months, indicating saturated or near-saturated atmospheric conditions.

The annual average relative humidity for Mysuru City shows an overall increasing (positive) trend over

the study period. This long-term rise may be associated with changing climatic conditions, increased

rainfall variability, expansion of built-up areas, and the presence of urban water bodies and green spaces,

which influence local moisture regimes. The increasing trend in annual RH has important implications

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for urban thermal comfort, stormwater dynamics, evapotranspiration processes, and sustainable urban

water management planning.

Planning and Wsupd Integration Framework

This study adopts Water-Sensitive Urban Planning and Design (WSUPD) as an integrated planning

framework to address the growing mismatch between rainfall patterns, stormwater flows, land-use change,

and infrastructure performance in Mysuru City. The framework is grounded in the city’s natural ridge–

valley system and interconnected lake networks, recognizing these as critical ecological infrastructures that

must be protected, restored, and functionally integrated into statutory planning and urban design.

The WSUPD integration is structured across multiple planning scales. At the regional and watershed scale,

natural drainage corridors, valleys, and lake catchments are treated as non-developable zones, with rainfall

trend analysis and flood-risk considerations informing regional growth management and zoning decisions.

At the city and master plan scale, stormwater systems, solid waste management, land-use zoning, and

transportation planning are integrated to function as a continuous blue–green network rather than isolated

engineering components. At the neighbourhood scale, urban layouts and streets are retrofitted with water-

sensitive elements—such as permeable surfaces, vegetated swales, detention spaces, and improved inlet

design—to reduce runoff volumes, slow flow velocities, and intercept pollutants. At the plot and building

scale, source-control measures, including rooftop rainwater harvesting, infiltration systems, and green

infrastructure, are emphasized to minimize cumulative runoff entering the municipal drainage network.

The framework promotes a balanced grey–green infrastructure approach, wherein conventional stormwater

drains are retained for extreme rainfall events while green and blue infrastructure manages frequent and

moderate storms through infiltration, storage, evapotranspiration, and water quality improvement. Urban

lakes and wetlands are positioned as regulated retention and treatment systems within the stormwater

network, rather than as passive or degraded discharge points. Institutional integration is a central

component of the framework. Effective WSUPD implementation requires coordinated governance among

urban planning, stormwater, solid waste, water supply, and environmental agencies, supported by shared

geospatial data, clear maintenance responsibilities, and routine monitoring. An adaptive planning approach

is adopted, wherein rainfall–runoff responses, drainage performance, and flood occurrences are

continuously evaluated and used to refine planning standards and design guidelines.

Through this integrated WSUPD framework, the study establishes stormwater management as a core urban

planning function rather than a purely engineering task. The framework aims to reduce flood risk, improve

water quality, enhance groundwater recharge, and strengthen urban resilience in Mysuru City by aligning

rainfall dynamics, urban form, infrastructure systems, and governance within a unified, water-sensitive

planning paradigm.

Limitations of the Study

It is important to recognize the study's limitations despite its contributions. a small number of rain gauge

stations in and around Mysuru City provided secondary data for the rainfall analysis. The unequal spatial

distribution of stations may affect the accuracy of estimates of peak storms and localized rainfall intensity,

especially in heavily urbanized micro-catchments, even if typical spatial interpolation techniques were used

to fill in data gaps.

Since real-time discharge measurements and continuous flow monitoring data for urban drains were not

consistently accessible, the assessment of stormwater flows mostly rely on indirect rainfall–runoff

connections and secondary hydrological records. As such, short-duration, high-intensity storm events

might not be well captured by the estimation of peak runoff and drainage capacity mismatch. Advanced

hydrodynamic or coupled surface–subsurface flow modelling is not included in the study, despite the fact

that it incorporates GIS-based spatial analysis and planning views. Because of this, a thorough analysis of

the intricate relationships between surface runoff, groundwater recharge, and sewer/drain backflow during

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periods of intense rainfall was not possible. Decentralized stormwater interventions and blue-green

infrastructure evaluations are mostly conceptual and planning-focused. Field-based performance

monitoring and long-term impact evaluation of such interventions were outside the purview of this study

due to institutional limitations. The study's conclusions and suggestions are context-specific because it

focuses exclusively on Mysuru City. Although the analytical methodology and planning principles might

be applicable to other Indian towns with comparable urban and climatic circumstances, care should be

exercised when extrapolating the findings.

CONCLUSIONS

This study used a Water-Sensitive Urban Planning and Design (WSUPD) framework to examine the

relationship between long-term climate trends, stormwater system performance, and urban management

practices in Mysuru City. Urban flooding in Mysuru City is caused by a combination of climatic,

infrastructure, and governance-related factors rather than just an increase in rainfall, according to an

analysis of 35 years' worth of meteorological data, a spatial assessment of drainage networks, a review of

the statutory plan, and field-based observations.

The findings show increased maximum temperatures, a greater frequency of short-duration, high-intensity

rainfall events, increasing rainfall variability, and shifting patterns of relative humidity. The observed shift

toward severe rainfall over shorter durations has boosted peak runoff generation beyond the capability of

current drainage systems, many of which are planned using obsolete rainfall assumptions, even while the

long-term trend in mean annual rainfall is moderate. At the same time, surface runoff and urban heat stress

have increased due to urban growth, vegetal cover loss, and an increase in impervious surfaces.

Field data unequivocally shows that poor solid waste management is a systemic and ongoing cause of urban

flooding and stormwater drainage failure. Plastic garbage, construction debris, organic matter, and silt were

observed to partially or completely clog stormwater drains in some wards. This resulted in decreased

hydraulic capacity, water stagnation, and localized floods even during periods of mild rainfall. These

findings demonstrate a clear, empirically supported connection between poor waste management and the

occurrence of floods. Encroachment on natural drainage pathways, disturbance of the ridge-valley system,

and functional deterioration of interconnected urban lakes have all contributed to the city's diminished

natural stormwater regulation capacity, making the issue even worse.

A significant planning and governance deficit is also noted by the report. The existing Mysuru Master Plan

gives natural drainage systems and blue-green infrastructure only a passing mention and regards solid waste

management and stormwater drainage as distinct sectoral challenges. Infrastructure investments

consequently overlook operational issues like blockages caused by garbage and changes in runoff

behaviours brought on by climate change.

Based on the findings, the following recommendations as follows

1. Integrate stormwater management into the Mysuru Master Plan, zoning laws, and development

control rules to institutionalize WSUPD in statutory planning. Clearly safeguard ridge-valley

systems, natural drains, and lake catchments as ecological infrastructure that cannot be developed.

2. By designing urban lakes, wetlands, open spaces, and green corridors as integrated stormwater

detention, retention, and treatment systems rather than discrete landscape features, blue-green

infrastructure networks can be strengthened.

3. To handle rising rainfall intensity and lessen peak runoff loads on traditional drainage systems,

implement climate-sensitive and decentralized stormwater solutions, such as bioswales, rain

gardens, permeable pavements, detention basins, and rooftop rainwater collecting.

4. Through GIS-based mapping, encroachment removal, and stringent enforcement against rubbish

dumping and structural obstacles in valley lines and floodplains, natural drainage systems can be

restored and protected.

5. Recognize that a major operational cause of floods is waste-induced drain blockage and incorporate

solid waste management into stormwater planning. In addition to strengthening waste segregation,

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routine collection, and enforcement procedures, drain design guidelines should incorporate debris

traps and maintenance access.

6. Increased tree cover, shaded streets, cool surface materials, and neighbourhood-scale green

infrastructure can all help reduce urban heat and microclimate stress while promoting

evapotranspiration and hydrological management.

7. Improve climate monitoring and data-driven planning by combining data on drainage performance,

land-use change, rainfall, temperature, humidity, and runoff behavior into a common geographic

decision-support system.

8. By clearly defining the roles of planning, drainage, water supply, and solid waste agencies and

utilizing shared data platforms and design standards revisions on a regular basis, it is possible to

enhance institutional coordination and adaptive governance.

All things considered, the study shows that a change from disjointed, engineering-led solutions to an

integrated, climate-responsive, and water-sensitive urban design approach is necessary for Mysuru City to

effectively reduce the danger of flooding. The results provide useful information for other quickly

urbanizing areas dealing with comparable issues like solid waste mishandling, drainage system stress, and

climate variability.

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