Bengaluru, 24 Jan

The gradual increase in temperature has already brought in the summer feels in City. There have been predictions of the maximum temperature of the City touching 31 degrees Celsius this year. In 2023, the City recorded a maximum of 28 degrees Celsius.

“Global and local phenomena have significantly contributed to the rising temperature,” TV Ramachandra, the Professor at the Centre for Ecological Sciences at the Indian Institute of Science, told Salar News. “The destruction of major vegetation and water bodies in the City is a major factor in creating climate fluctuations.”

The expert said the current unplanned urbanisation is creating the concrete islands in Bengaluru. The urban areas, where these structures are highly concentrated and greenery are limited, become “islands” of higher temperatures relative to areas on the outskirts.

Ramachandra said the vegetation or greenery in Bengaluru was 68 per cent in the 1970s but cut to January 2024, 80 per cent of the City is concretised. “Instead of focusing on Brand Bengaluru, the government should focus on liveable Bengaluru first. The companies that are ready to invest in Bengaluru should be diverted to Gulbarga, Belagavi or other Northern parts of Karnataka,” Ramachandra said.

The Garden City is short of fresh air and people are ordering oxygen tanks because there is no holistic growth, Ramachandra said. “More than the holistic growth of the entire State, the government is focusing on the GDP growth of Bengaluru.”

Bhargavi S Rao, an independent researcher and trustee of Environment Support Group (ESG), said, “The local condition of never-ending construction, laying high-rise buildings, underbridges and flyovers have increased the heating in the City. No construction in Bengaluru is done according to its climate. We are pouring tons of cement and steel every day.”

The building bylaws of the City have been forgotten, the researcher claimed. “BBMP is taking actions only to tick off their lists. They do random stuff such as launching apps but they are not taking significant actions. Less than 15% of the houses in the City have rainwater harvesting,” Rao said. 

About the people who will be impacted by climate change, she said, “Labourers and pourakarmikas whose houses will be flooded during rains are the ones who will suffer the most because of climate change. The changes should be brought at ward level so that the betterment can be witnessed.”

Neelam Manjunath, who is working closely with BBMP, said, “Using Bamboo for rejuvenation of lakes, construction and producing daily products will have a significant impact. Bamboos are fast growing and store oxygen, which has made it environment friendly. —Salar News