Apeep into the urban dynamics of Bengaluru reveals a very disturbing trend: A 1005% increase in concretisation, loss of tree cover and drastic decline in water bodies.
This is unacceptable as this growth will deprive our children their right to live with clean air, water and environment. The landscape should have at least 33% green cover to maintain clean air, water, etc.
Bengaluru was once known for its salubrious climate and moderate temperature of 14-16 degree Celsius (in 1800). It has now turned into a heat island with raging temperatures of 38-40 degrees Celsius. Apples were once grown in Palace Orchards for a few days in December, benefiting from temperature of zero degrees.
Today, the city is littered with solid wastes and lakes are fed continuously with untreated domestic sewage and industrial effluents. Trees and lakes aid in moderating the micro climate. This is evident in the 2-3 degrees Celsius recorded in locations with good tree cover (Lalbagh, Cubbon Park, IISc campus, etc).
There is an urgent need to stall this unplanned unrealistic urbanisation. Now is the time to have planned interventions to decongest Bengaluru on priority and get back the lost glory from the clutches of the mafias – land, water and waste.
The solution is to decongest Bengaluru by improving infrastructure in other districts so that a few installations are shifted to those locations. There is no point in having concentrated growth path, which will make the region unliveable.
Trees aid in sequestering emitted carbons from vehicles and other sources, infiltration of rainwater, allowing groundwater recharge, besides maintaining the ambient temperature.
The government should consider replicating the mini forest model of IISc, which lowered temperature by two degrees and raised groundwater levels.
On the proposed steel flyover project, how can the government claim that IISc has cleared the project without even consulting any IIScian or approaching the Institute. No sensible citizen of Bengaluru will allow such an irrational proposal to siphon off resources. It is time the bureaucrats shun their autocratic, colonial style of misgovernance and stop wasting public money.