India, June 12 -- Sir,

The city of Mysuru has been experiencing continuous and intense rainfall over the past several days, and what should be a season of relief and renewal has instead become a period of disruption, concern and hardship for its residents. The recurring scenes of flooded streets, floating plastic waste, clogged drains and failing infrastructure are no longer isolated incidents - they are symptoms of a much deeper, chronic urban issue.

The recent downpours have once again exposed the serious gaps in our civic preparedness. In several parts of the city, the underground drainage (UGD) system is severely clogged, unable to handle the volume of rainwater. The absence of a proper stormwater drainage network in many areas has ...