Sweltering days, sizzling nights: Concrete jungles trap the heat
Srinagar, Jun 30: Why do Srinagar, Jammu, and other urban areas of J&K sizzle even at night amidst the ongoing heatwave, while the areas in adjoining districts, similar in altitude and latitude, have cool breezes soothing the residents after sunset?
Urban Heat Islands are making the lives of residents more miserable in the ensuing assault of climate change.
Urban Heat Island Effect is a well-documented phenomenon with concrete and asphalt absorbing heat and not cooling off after sunset.
Trees act as natural coolers through the process of evapotranspiration.
Concrete surfaces have replaced green patches and urban forests.
The Global Forest Watch shows that J&K lost 21.2 kha of forest cover between 2001 and 2023.
In areas like Srinagar, which have seen rapid growth and urbanisation, the effect of green cover loss is more pronounced.
The built-up area of Srinagar expanded from 34.53 sq km in 2000 to 60.63 sq km in 2020, a massive 75.58 percent increase.
A study titled Srinagar City: Urban History, Growth and Threats states that the built-up area grew from 35 sq km to 80 sq km.
This expansion has been unregulated, often replacing agricultural lands, orchards, wetlands and flood plains.
As per the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), compensatory afforestation is underway, but by all measures, inadequate.
ìWe have planted trees in 10 hectares in 2023-24, and 12 hectares have been set for 2024-25. This is as part of the National Clean Air Programme,î District Forest Officer, Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), Latief Ahmed, told Greater Kashmir.
He said that as part of NCAP, all the open areas were to be covered by either trees or concrete to reduce the level of PM10 in the air by 40 percent by 2030.
However, the city does not appear to have a Heat Action Plan (HAP).
The maximum temperature in Srinagar crossed 35 degrees centigrade in June, the highest ever in two decades.
Srinagar and other urban areas swelter as the unprecedented heat wave shatters record after record.
Srinagar City and many towns swelter even at night, while the adjoining districts have their villages cooled off after sunset.
Urban Heat Island Effect is being attributed to the unrelenting nighttime discomfort in Srinagar: the dwindling green cover, and climate change are making cities in India furnaces of sorts.
Tier II and Tier III cities that have witnessed rapid growth and infrastructure development are bearing the brunt of climate change.
Regional Director Social Forestry Department, Kashmir, Zahid Aslam Moghal expressed anguish over the depleting green cover in Srinagar and other urban areas.
ìTrees are cut recklessly. This needs to stop, and now,î he said.
