The second Modi government had the right intentions in dealing with environmental degradation and climate change but there wasn't enough focus on implementation, top environmentalist Sunita Narain has said. In an interaction with PTI editors here, Narain said successive administrations have diluted the environmental clearance system to the extent it no longer works.
A severe heatwave in Delhi has resulted in five fatalities and left around a dozen people critically ill, according to Dr. Ajay Shukla, medical superintendent at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. In the past two days, 22 patients, mostly laborers exposed to extreme heat conditions, have been admitted with suspected heatstroke. Rajneesh Sareen from the Centre for Science and Environment highlighted that increased construction and concretization in cities like Delhi contribute to rising minimum temperatures. "Concrete buildings absorb heat through the day and release it at night.This is why minimum temperatures are rising in big cities," Sareen explained. This urban heat phenomenon is intensifying the effects of the ongoing heatwave, particularly impacting vulnerable populations such as laborers.
The Union Health Ministry, responding to a spike in heatstroke cases in several parts of north India due to an unrelenting heatwave, has advised central government-run hospitals to prioritize these patients. At Delhi’s state-run Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, 45 patients with heat-related problems have been admitted since May 27. Tragically, nine deaths have been reported since then, with seven occurring in the past two days. Other hospitals in Delhi are also experiencing a surge in heatstroke admissions. Delhi has been enduring an intense heatwave for nearly a month, with minimum temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius and maximum temperatures around 45 degrees Celsius. The extreme heat has made tap water hot and rendered air-conditioners largely ineffective. The weather office has predicted that heatwave conditions will persist in most parts of north India for the next 24 hours but are expected to abate thereafter. Rajneesh Sareen from the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) provided an explanation for the abnormally warm nights. He attributed the rise in minimum temperatures to increased construction and concretization in cities like Delhi. Concrete buildings, he explained, absorb heat during the day and release it at night, creating a heat island effect. This phenomenon is exacerbated by the reduction of green areas and the construction of high-rises, which affect wind movement. Sareen suggested that reducing the use of concrete could help mitigate these effects.
As India embarks on ambitious construction projects, it's imperative to acknowledge the significant role of the built environment in exacerbating this crisis. A recent study by the Delhi-based think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has highlighted a disturbing trend in India's major cities. Heat waves are intensifying due to rising temperatures, increasing humidity, and urban expansion. The 'urban heat island effect' is a phenomenon where cities are notably hotter than their surrounding rural areas due to human activities. This effect is particularly devastating for vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, children, and those with pre-existing health conditions, who are more susceptible to heat-related health issues. The concrete jungles we construct amplify this effect, transforming our cities into stifling traps.
Remember when comic book character Darkseid ominously warned Superman in Justice League Unlimited, “The skies will rain fire, the oceans will boil...” The current heatwave has everyone in Delhi and nearby regions feeling similarly pushed to their limits. Delhiites are enduring an extended period of extreme heat, with the capital experiencing relentless high temperatures. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued multiple alerts, emphasising the severity of the situation. A ‘red alert’ has been issued for Wednesday, with temperatures expected to exceed 45 degrees Celsius. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp Most areas in Delhi are experiencing heatwave to ‘severe heatwave’ conditions. The Safdarjung observatory noted a temperature of 45.2 degrees Celsius on Monday, a significant jump of 6.4 degrees above the season’s average. The mornings also offer little respite from the heat. On Monday, the minimum temperature was 33 degrees Celsius, which is 5.5 degrees above normal. Delhi has already endured eight consecutive days of heatwave conditions, along with three uncomfortably warm nights. And the extreme weather conditions are not restricted to Delhi and nearby regions. Many parts of Uttar Pradesh are expected to experience heatwave to severe heatwave conditions until June 19, with Himachal Pradesh and Bihar facing similar conditions until June 18. When will the heatwave end? The weather department forecasts that the heatwave will persist until Wednesday, with some reprieve anticipated on Thursday and Friday. The city is predicted to be under a ‘yellow’ alert on Wednesday and Thursday, transitioning to a ‘green’ alert by Friday and Saturday. More From This Section Why do Yogendra Yadav, Suhas Palshikar want NCERT to delete their names? Why do Yogendra Yadav, Suhas Palshikar want NCERT to delete their names? Kanchanjunga crash: Howrah bound trains cancelled, diverted. Check list Kanchanjunga crash: Howrah bound trains cancelled, diverted. Check list PM Modi to release Rs 20,000 cr under PM-KISAN scheme in Varanasi today PM Modi to release Rs 20,000 cr under PM-KISAN scheme in Varanasi today No respite from heatwave, max temp in Delhi can touch 45 degrees Celsius No respite from heatwave, max temp in Delhi can touch 45 degrees Celsius What is sending the mercury soaring in Delhi? The primary cause of the heatwave in Delhi is the dry and warm westerly winds from Rajasthan and southern Haryana. These winds continue through the night, raising night-time temperatures. Additionally, a western disturbance has led to partly cloudy skies, which hinder night-time cooling and exacerbate daytime heat. Weathermen explain that when both days and nights are warmer than usual, there is little relief from the heat even in the early morning or evening. This continuous heat buildup results in even hotter days, as the ground retains heat. Summer in Delhi is worsened by the ‘urban heat island effect’. The city’s dense population and extensive urban sprawl mean buildings, concrete, and asphalt absorb and retain heat more efficiently than natural landscapes. An analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) points out that heat stress in cities resulting from a combination of air temperature, relative humidity, and land surface temperature, are causing acute thermal discomfort. The CSE analysis indicates that the increase in Delhi’s built-up areas, from 31.4 per cent in 2003 to 38.2 per cent in 2022, directly contributes to the extreme heat. This urban expansion traps heat, especially at night, making the city hotter. Additionally, Delhi lacks the moderating influence of large water bodies, unlike coastal cities. The delayed arrival of the monsoon and dry pre-monsoon months further worsen the situation by reducing evaporative cooling. Discoms on alert due to rising power demand Over the past month, the northern region has experienced unprecedented power demand due to ongoing heat conditions. On Monday, the demand soared to an all-time high of 89 gigawatts (1 gigawatt equals 1,000 megawatts), which was successfully met. However, this surge in demand has caused power supply disruptions in Lucknow and Meerut. Additionally, passenger services at Delhi International Airport were affected on Monday afternoon due to a “significant voltage spike in the grid,” which was reportedly caused by the tripping of a 765 KV line. Heatwave alert in the United Kingdom The UK’s heatwave alert for temperatures reaching 26 degrees Celsius by late June has amused many Indians, sparking a wave of humorous social media chatter. The Mirror, a UK-based outlet, posted on X (formerly Twitter), “UK to be blasted by 48-hour 26-degree Celsius heatwave with five cities in England the hottest.” This post garnered a series of witty reactions from Indians, many of whom remarked that 26 degrees Celsius is a common air conditioner setting in India. However, it’s important to understand that in regions where temperatures are typically lower, such as the UK, a rise to 26 degrees Celsius can qualify as a heatwave. Specifically, a heatwave is defined by a temperature that is at least 4.5 degrees Celsius above normal, with a severe heatwave occurring when the deviation exceeds 6.4 degrees. Deaths due to extreme heat during 2024 Hajj pilgrimage During this year’s Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, at least 19 pilgrims have died due to the extreme heat. Jordan’s foreign ministry confirmed that these fatalities were heat-related, and an additional 17 pilgrims are reported missing, according to various media sources. This week, temperatures in Saudi Arabia surpassed 46 degrees Celsius, posing significant challenges for outdoor rituals, particularly for elderly participants. Many Hajj rituals involve extended periods outdoors and considerable walking distances. Officials, as cited by news agencies, forecasted a “relative humidity of 25 per cent, nearly zero rainfall, and an average maximum temperature of 44 degrees Celsius.” Last year, more than 240 pilgrims, predominantly from Indonesia, died during the Hajj, though specific causes were not detailed. Additionally, over 10,000 heat-related illnesses were reported, with approximately 10 per cent being cases of heat stroke, according to a Saudi official.
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 India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast above-normal temperatures for June in the northwest and central parts of the country including Delhi, making it one of the longest heatwave spells. 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. ADVERTISEMENT Delhi, which is also facing a water shortage, recorded about 44 degrees late Monday afternoon but the IMD said it felt like 49.2 degrees. "Climate change plays an important role," Krishna S. Vatsa, a member of the National Disaster Management Authority, told Reuters. 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. ADVERTISEMENT According to a study by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) published last month, land surface temperatures in the summers of 2001 to 2010 in cities such as Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai used to drop by up to 13.2 degrees during the night from their day-time peak. Between 2014 and 2023 they were only cooling off by up to 11.5 degrees. "Hot nights are as dangerous as mid-day peak temperatures," the Centre's report said. "People get little chance to recover from day-time heat if temperatures remain high overnight." Vatsa said most Indian states were implementing heat action plans that include provisioning drinking water and better medical facilities, as well as rescheduling outdoor work and school vacations. But Anumita Roychowdhury, CSE's executive director, said there was no clear mandate to implement long-term strategies. Delhi's long-term plan includes increasing heat insulation of buildings, developing shelters for urban poor and slum dwellers, and investing in cooling water bodies.
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 India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast above-normal temperatures for June in the northwest and central parts of the country, including Delhi, making it one of the longest heatwave spells. 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. “Climate change plays an important role,” said Krishna S. Vatsa, a member of the National Disaster Management Authority. 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.”
Cleaning up Delhi’s air requires “uncomfortable and inconvenient” decisions and it cannot be achieved by being nice to everyone, particularly the affluent residents who significantly contribute to the problem, environmentalist Sunita Narain has said. In an interaction with PTI, Narain said that though central and state govts had taken several steps to control air pollution in the national capital, including banning coal and introducing BS-VI fuel, erratic weather patterns due to climate change and the inadequate speed of addressing the crisis continued to exacerbate the problem. Claiming that that the episodic burning of crop residue by farmers in winter is not the primary concern, Narain, the director general of Centre for Science and Environment, called transport and industries more worrisome. “My only request for new govt is to take some uncomfortable, inconvenient decisions to move ahead on air pollution. We will never clean up the air of Delhi by being nice to everybody, particularly the rich of Delhi,” she said. Narain, who was part of the Supreme Court-appointed Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority, also urged central govt to bring natural gas under the GST regime, arguing that the current triple taxation on gas makes it unaffordable compared to dirty coal. This change will make clean gas a more viable option, she said. “The easiest thing we can do to reduce pollution in Delhi is to bring natural gas under GST.” She stressed the need for reducing vehicular pollution by enhancing public transport. Source apportionment studies conducted in the past show that transport accounts for 17.9% to 39.2% of Delhi’s PM2.5 pollution, while industries’ contribution ranges from 2.3% to 28.9%. “Delhi has taken several steps to control air pollution. It is the only city in the country to ban coal use, which is a major achievement... Govt introduced BS-VI fuel and imposed a congestion charge on trucks entering Delhi. The construction of a peripheral expressway now allows trucks to bypass the city,” Narain pointed out. Efforts have also been made to incentivise the use of natural gas. In Delhi, there is zero VAT on gas, and natural gas is now readily available in industrial areas. These initiatives have collectively led to a year-over-year reduction in pollution levels, she said. However, two major factors continue to exacerbate the problem — worsening weather conditions, which are beyond human control, and the inadequate speed of tackling the crisis, the activist said. This winter, for instance, northwest India, including Delhi, did not experience rain due to changes in the Arctic jet stream affecting western disturbances, which are becoming more erratic and shifting northwards, she explained. This has led to less snow in the hills and less rain in Delhi, resulting in higher pollution levels, Narain said. “Secondly, after all the actions taken up to 2021, we are not taking actions at the speed required by the crisis that is happening,” she said. The last major bus fleet expansion, she pointed out, occurred during Sheila Dikshit’s tenure as Delhi chief minister, around the time of Commonwealth Games 2010. Since then, many buses have not been replaced, leading to a decline in bus ridership, she said, adding that the bus system needed to be integrated with metro systems and effective parking facilities. PTI
An IndiGo flight from Delhi to Bagdogra was delayed for over three hours at Indira Gandhi International Airport due to a technical issue caused by high ground temperatures. The aircraft, parked on the tarmac, experienced a technical snag that hindered its timely departure. The Bagdogra airport, situated near Siliguri in West Bengal, was the intended destination. The flight, scheduled to depart at 2:10 pm and arrive at 4:10 pm, finally took off at 5:51 pm, nearly three hours late. Online tracking platform FlightRadar24 confirmed the delay, showing the flight idling on the tarmac. "Delhi and Bagdogra flights were delayed due to high ground temperatures impeding operations," IndiGo stated. "Passenger safety is our top priority, and we are taking measures to ensure a prompt departure. We are providing regular updates to passengers and regret the inconvenience caused by factors beyond our control." Delhi turning into heat trap The incident underscores a larger issue plaguing Indian cities, which have increasingly become "heat traps" due to unbalanced growth, dwindling water bodies, and rising greenhouse emissions. This summer, dozens have succumbed to the relentless heat. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted above-normal temperatures for June in northwestern and central India, including Delhi, contributing to one of the longest heatwave spells. Since May 12, daily highs in the capital have consistently exceeded 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit), with temperatures peaking at 44 degrees and feeling like 49.2 degrees due to the heat index. Krishna S. Vatsa of the National Disaster Management Authority attributed this crisis to climate change and urban growth that has drastically reduced wetlands and water bodies, turning cities into heat traps. The reduction of permeable spaces exacerbates the problem, making nights almost as unbearable as days. A study by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) highlights this trend. From 2001 to 2010, cities like Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai saw night-time temperatures drop by up to 13.2 degrees from their daytime peaks. Between 2014 and 2023, this cooling effect diminished, with temperatures only dropping by up to 11.5 degrees. “Hot nights are as dangerous as mid-day peak temperatures,” CSE’s report stated. The lack of overnight cooling gives people little respite from daytime heat.
Chennai : चेन्नई Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) द्वारा किए गए विश्लेषण से पता चलता है कि चेन्नई भारत का सबसे गर्म मेगा शहर बन गया है, जहाँ ऐसे दिनों की संख्या में नाटकीय वृद्धि देखी गई है, जब हीट इंडेक्स 41 डिग्री सेल्सियस के खतरे के क्षेत्र की सीमा को पार कर जाता है। पिछले दो दशकों में, शहर ने इन अत्यधिक गर्मी वाले दिनों में तीन गुना वृद्धि का अनुभव किया है। CSE अध्ययन ने 2001 से 2011 तक के गर्मियों के तापमान की तुलना छह प्रमुख भारतीय शहरों: दिल्ली, मुंबई, कोलकाता, हैदराबाद, बेंगलुरु और चेन्नई में 2014 से 2023 तक के तापमान से की। निष्कर्ष चेन्नई में एक परेशान करने वाली प्रवृत्ति का संकेत देते हैं, जहाँ औसत सापेक्ष आर्द्रता 2001-10 के औसत की तुलना में पिछले दस गर्मियों में महत्वपूर्ण वृद्धि दिखाती है। समवर्ती रूप से, चेन्नई में दशकीय गर्मियों का औसत परिवेश तापमान लगभग 0.5 डिग्री सेल्सियस बढ़ गया है। अध्ययन के मुख्य निष्कर्ष: खतरे वाले दिनों में तीन गुना वृद्धि: चेन्नई में ऐसे दिनों में काफी वृद्धि देखी गई है, जब ताप सूचकांक 41 डिग्री सेल्सियस से अधिक हो जाता है, जो मानव स्वास्थ्य के लिए खतरनाक माना जाता है। यह वृद्धि शहर की अत्यधिक गर्मी की स्थिति के प्रति बढ़ती संवेदनशीलता को उजागर करती है। बढ़ती सापेक्ष आर्द्रता: अध्ययन पिछले एक दशक में चेन्नई में औसत सापेक्ष आर्द्रता में उल्लेखनीय वृद्धि की ओर इशारा करता है। उच्च आर्द्रता स्तर, बढ़ते तापमान के साथ मिलकर, ताप सूचकांक को बढ़ा दिया है, जिससे बाहरी परिस्थितियाँ और अधिक खतरनाक हो गई हैं। तापमान वृद्धि: विश्लेषण से पता चलता है कि चेन्नई में दशकीय गर्मियों के औसत परिवेश के तापमान में लगभग 0.5 डिग्री सेल्सियस की वृद्धि हुई है, जो व्यापक जलवायु परिवर्तन प्रवृत्तियों और शहरी ताप द्वीप प्रभावों को दर्शाता है। अन्य मेगा शहरों के साथ तुलना: सीएसई अध्ययन ने दिल्ली, मुंबई, कोलकाता, हैदराबाद और बेंगलुरु में गर्मियों के तापमान की भी जांच की। जबकि इन शहरों में भी तापमान और आर्द्रता में परिवर्तन का अनुभव हुआ है, चेन्नई ताप सूचकांक दिनों में स्पष्ट वृद्धि और समग्र तापमान वृद्धि के कारण अलग है।
दिल्ली में लगातार लू चल रही है, जिससे बचने के लिए लोग एसी का उपयोग भी जमकर कर रहे है। इस जानलेवा गर्मी के दौरान एसी का उपयोग काफी बढ़ गया है। ऐसे में एसी में आग लगने की घटनाओं में भी बहुत इजाफा हुआ है। हाल ही के दिनों में दिल्ली-एनसीआर में एसी में आग लगने की घटनाएं सामने आई है। शहरों में बिल्डिगों में आग लगने के कारण गर्मी तेज होने लगी है। तेज गर्मी होने से एसी के सिस्टम पर प्रतिकूल असर होने लगा है। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट के अधिकारी अनुमिता राय चौधरी ने नवभारत टाइम्स को बताया कि एसी को मूल रूप से 24 से 26 डिग्री तक चलाना चाहिए। इतने तापमान पर एसी को चलाने से बिल में भी 20 से 30 प्रतिशत की कमी आती है। अगर थ्री स्टार स्पिलट एसी छह घंटे के लिए चलाया जाए तो 30 दिन में 260 किलोवाट बिजली की खपत होती है। एसी में आग लगने की बढ़ती घटनाओं को देखते हुए दिल्ली जैसे शहर में हाईराइज इमारतें बनाने में परेशानी नहीं होती है। इसके अलावा जलाशय और हरियाली को बचाना भी जरुरी होता है। 1970-80 के दशक में 200 से अधिक जलाशय दिल्ली में हुआ करते थे। हालांकि अब इनकी संख्या सिर्फ 10 प्रतिशत रह गई है। वर्ष 1970-80 के दौरान 45 डिग्री तापमान काफी कम होता था मगर आज के समय में ये तापमान आम हो गया है। ऊंची ऊंची बिल्डिंगों के बनने का सीधा असर तापमान पर हुआ है। एसी लगने से बढ़ते हैं आग लगने की हालात आज के समय में हर घर और दुकान में एक या इससे अधिक एसी लगे होते है। इससे बिजली का लोड काफी अधिक बढ़ जाता है। गर्मी होने के साथ ही एसी के कंप्रेशर फटने की घटनाएं सामने आती है। यही कारण है कि इमारतों में आग लगने की घटनाएं काफी अधिक हो जाती है। गौरतलब है कि स्पलिट एसी में कूलिंग यूनिट को घर के बाहर लगाया जाता है। ऐसे में ये आग लगने को लेकर काफी संवेदनशील होती है। कूलिंग यूनिट को आग से बचाना काफी जरुरी है। एक्सपर्ट का कहना है कि आग लगने की घटनाओं में हो रही बढ़ोतरी के कारण लोगों को इसके प्रति जागरुक करना भी जरुरी हो गया है। वहीं अधिक गर्मी होने के कारण एसी ओवरलोड हो रहे है। दिल्ली जैसे शहरों में भीड़ के कारण भी गर्मी बढ़ती जा रही है। शहरों का अधिक गर्म होने पर एसी में आग लगने की घटना बढ़ रही है।
Large parts of northern and eastern India remained in the grip of a sweltering heat wave on Tuesday, driving power demands to record highs. Warmer-than-usual nights have further exacerbated people's distress, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported. Heatwave to severe heatwave conditions prevailed in parts of Uttar Pradesh, south Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Punjab, and pockets of north Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, and the Jammu division. Maximum temperatures ranged from 44 to 46 degrees Celsius in many parts of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and some parts of north Madhya Pradesh, south Bihar, and north Rajasthan. The blistering heat has left a large number of people scrambling for water, with storage levels in reservoirs and rivers hitting record lows. The shortage of water for irrigation is impacting agriculture in some areas. Power grids are under immense pressure, and there has been an increase in incidents of short circuits and fires. Delhi Sees Influx Of Patients With Complaints Of Heat Stroke With Maximum Temperature Of 44 Degrees Celsius Delhi, facing a severe water crisis, recorded a maximum temperature of 44 degrees Celsius, over five notches above normal. The minimum temperature in the city was 33.8 degrees Celsius, at least six notches above what is typical for this time of the year. The national capital's peak power demand on Tuesday afternoon reached 8,647 MW, the highest ever for the city. Officials attributed the record rise in power demand to the increased use of air conditioners and other cooling appliances amid the relentless heat wave. Hospitals in Delhi-NCR have seen an influx of patients with complaints of heat stroke and heat exhaustion. Doctors are advising the elderly and immuno-compromised individuals to avoid stepping outdoors. IMD officials highlighted that high minimum temperatures, or warm nights, are exacerbating the impact of the deadly heat. Environmental expert Sunita Narain expressed concern, stating, "This is scaring me. The minimum temperature in cities is not going down. People are not getting a chance to recover which means that we are getting more deaths at night than during the daytime because normally the minimum temperature would fall and you would be able to recover to go back to work the next day, just not getting that", as quoted by news agency PTI. India is experiencing one of its hottest summers on record, with multiple heat waves pushing millions to their limits. Many states have reported heat-related deaths. The IMD noted that around 40 per cent of the country has recorded double the number of heat wave days than usual.
Renowned environmentalist Sunita Narain has flagged the inefficiency of current water supply systems, urging urban centers to embrace rainwater harvesting to combat the challenges of a warming climate. Her comments arrive as Delhi faces an acute water crisis driven by an intense heat wave, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius for over a month. In a dialogue with PTI editors, Narain criticized the wastage in water distribution systems of cities such as Delhi and Bengaluru, which lose up to 60 percent of water. She proposed that Delhi should utilize Yamuna water from Okhla, promoting sewage treatment for drinking purposes.
The current water supply system that involves fetching water from distant places is broken and cities need to adopt rainwater harvesting to prepare for a warmer climate, noted environmentalist Sunita Narain has said. Her remarks come as Delhi grapples with a severe water crisis amid a punishing heat wave. In an interaction with PTI editors, Narain said cities such as Delhi and Bengaluru waste or lose 50 to 60 per cent of water in distribution, but "that's the nature of the current water supply system". According to Narain, the director general of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), Delhi should lift Yamuna water from Okhla -- the tail end of the Delhi stretch of the river -- and not from Wazirabad. This essentially means Delhi should clean up its sewage for drinking water purposes, she said. "I actually put this in a Planning Commission document. Of course, it was considered too inconvenient, but I did put it in. "Every city should be required to take its drinking water at the end of its river, not at the beginning, which means that Delhi would have to draw its drinking water from Okhla and not Wazirabad. This means all the sewage of Delhi is what you would drink," said the environmentalist, who has served as a member of the government-appointed National Ganga River Basin Authority in the past.
Indian cities have become “heat traps” due to their unbalanced growth devouring water bodies and increasing greenhouse emissions, a senior government official said yesterday, as a scorching summer killed dozens in some parts of the country. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast above-normal temperatures for June in the northwest and central parts of the country including Delhi, making it one of the longest heatwave spells. The highest daily temperatures in the capital have stayed above 40 degrees Celsius since May 12 and are forecast to fall below that mark only on June 26. The IMD’s heatwave criteria start with 40C in the plains and 30C for hills where it is generally cooler because of elevation. Delhi, which is also facing a water shortage, recorded about 44C late yesterday afternoon but the IMD said it felt like 49.2C. “Climate change plays an important role,” Krishna S Vatsa, a member of the National Disaster Management Authority, said. 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. According to a study by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) published last month, land surface temperatures in the summers of 2001-2010 in cities such as Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai used to drop by up to 13.2C during the night from their day-time peak. Between 2014 and 2023 they were only cooling off by up to 11.5C. “Hot nights are as dangerous as mid-day peak temperatures,” the Centre’s report said. “People get little chance to recover from day-time heat if temperatures remain high overnight.” Vatsa said most Indian states were implementing heat action plans that include provisioning drinking water and better medical facilities, as well as rescheduling outdoor work and school vacations. But Anumita Roychowdhury, CSE’s executive director, said there was no clear mandate to implement long-term strategies. Delhi’s long-term plan includes increasing heat insulation of buildings, developing shelters for urban poor and slum dwellers, and investing in cooling water bodies.
NEW DELHI: Delhiites have been grappling with an unrelenting and harsh summer as the scorching heat in the capital shows no signs of abating. The oppressive heatwave conditions and warm nights continue to persist in Delhi and its neighbouring areas, making it difficult for residents to find respite from the blistering temperatures. H&M