URVERS Project Brochure

This brochure offers a detailed insight into the URVERS (Urban River Systems) project, which focuses on the critical role of rivers in advancing sustainable urban development and resilient city planning. Spearheaded through a multi-disciplinary and research-oriented approach, the URVERS project advocates for the integration of river ecosystems into urban planning and policy frameworks, ensuring that natural water systems are protected, restored, and leveraged as central elements of urban life.

As urbanization intensifies across India, many rivers that once supported cities’ ecological and socio-cultural foundations have become degraded due to pollution, encroachment, and neglect. Recognizing this, the URVERS project aims to shift the narrative—viewing rivers not as backdrops to urban development but as living systems essential for climate resilience, biodiversity, public health, and water security.

This brochure captures the key activities and outcomes of the project, including:

• Pilot studies conducted in selected cities to understand the current status of urban river systems
   
• Case studies showcasing successful examples of river rejuvenation and integration into city master plans
   
• Stakeholder workshops that foster collaboration between urban planners, municipal bodies, environmental experts, and local communities
   
• Policy analyses and recommendations for embedding river-sensitive principles into urban governance and planning instruments
  
   

A strong emphasis is placed on river-sensitive urban planning, which encourages cities to adopt nature-based solutions such as riparian buffer zones, wetlands, green corridors, and floodplain restoration. The brochure also highlights innovative approaches like blue-green infrastructure, participatory planning, and integrated water resource management (IWRM) that have been piloted or proposed under the URVERS framework.

Through visually rich content and concise explanations, the brochure seeks to educate and inspire urban planners, policymakers, and other stakeholders to adopt these practices. It offers a roadmap for incorporating river systems into urban development strategies, contributing to national missions like Namami Gange, Smart Cities Mission, AMRUT 2.0, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—especially SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

Ultimately, the URVERS brochure is not just a summary of activities but a call to action. It underscores the urgent need to reposition rivers at the heart of urban sustainability discourse, promoting cities that are ecologically balanced, water-secure, and resilient to climate change.