India’s urban growth has turned its cities into ‘heat traps’, making hot summers worse
- Unbalanced urban growth, which has reduced wetlands and water bodies, are among the reasons Indian cities have become ‘heat traps’
Indian cities have become “heat traps” due to their unbalanced growth devouring water bodies and increasing greenhouse emissions, a senior government official said on Monday, as a scorching summer killed dozens in some parts of the country.
The highest daily temperatures in the capital have stayed above 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) since May 12 and are forecast to fall below that mark only on June 26. The IMD’s heatwave criteria start with 40 degrees in the plains and 30 degrees for hills, where it is generally cooler because of elevation.
Delhi, which is also facing a water shortage, recorded about 44 degrees late on Monday afternoon, but the IMD said it felt like 49.2 degrees.
Unbalanced urban growth, which has reduced wetlands and water bodies, was another factor, Vatsa said. “The emission of greenhouse gases has gone up. The permeable spaces have gone down considerably. The cities actually have become heat traps.”
As a result, he said, nights are nearly as uncomfortable as days.