In a record spree, summer scorching heat in Bengaluru feels particularly intense this year for a specific reason: its urban heat island effect (UHI) has worse Gooths, amplified by a Wuiding Red, infra projects that do not absorb heat without trees. The hottest day of the year on March 14 to 35.4 ° C could be the beginning.
Now it is in mid -April and the improved UHI effect could lead the intense heat to register levels this month. Last year, the maximum for the month had reached 38.5 ° C, less than a degree lower than the highest temperature in the need for April in the city of Bangalore: 39.2 ° C on April 25, 2016. The green cover once held from the city is deployed before.
Typically, the UHI effect retains heat within urban areas and stops its dissipation. The heat absorbent material both in buildings and in the concrete infrastructure helps this phenomenon significantly. The investigation shows that the temperature within the UHI areas could be 3 to 5 degrees higher than the surroundings, drastically worshiping the lives of citizens. The continuous loss of trees and bodies of water from Bengaluru has only aggravated this trend.
The detailed report of the Project (DPR) of Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has aligned a total of 11,137 trees to be carved, giving way to two runners or 44.65 km. But, as the environmentalist and legal activist Dattatreya Devare says, there is no information on the location of these trees.
A flower seller uses an umbrella to protect the intense heat in Bengaluru. | Photo credit: Sudhakara Jain
Big Compensatory Plantation
Compensatory plantation is the standard response for loss of tree coverage due to infrastructure projects. But Devare argues that thesis plants must be planted on the road and not in Nelalangala, Gouribidanur or Kolar. “Each quarter, the BMRCL would be supposed to file a report on the court on the planting of compensatory trees for the number of cut trees. They were not submitted for almost a year and a half. In a court order, they submitted for the last time a report in September 2024. Two rooms have ended now, we constantly remember them,” he explains.
The agencies, he points out, argue that there is no space in the city. “I told them that there is enough space on the edges of the roads. Finally, after the continuous efforts, the BBMP (Bhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike) gave a affidavit in the court that in 2025-26, his flyer did not ask for cups of cups they do, we are behind them.”
Heat wave action plan
The decades of research, both national and global, have clearly established the link between green coverage and urban temperatures. There is also an existing plan on preparatory measures, as articulated by the heat action plan of the state of Karnataka 2023-24. According to medium/long -term measures at the city level, the Plan requires a heat and vulnerability wave wave map to develop a strategic mitigation action plan.
Mapear hot points within the city and integrate them into the vulnerability evaluation is also part of this plan. It also requires measures to reduce the temperature in these hot points through the development of vertical gardens, small parks with a water source and other allied characteristics. The Plan also seeks to build an environmental evaluation through the coordination of different research and education institutions. The results of this evaluation must be incorporated into urban planning design policies to stop the future appearance of the urban heat islands, says the action wave action plan.
Within a year of the rejuvenation of Lake Sarakki three years ago, the underground water table improved in 300 feet. Last year, when the entire city faced a higher water and temperatures crisis, the lake had enough water and the underground layer was less than 500 feet. | Photo credit: K. Bhagya Prakash
Porous landscape up to 6.02%
The monitoring of the land use patterns of Bengaluru for decades, the Center for Ecological Sciences of the Indian Institute of Science (IISCAL) shows the drastic decrease of the city in green coverage. The Share of the City’s Porous Landscape (Vegetation and Water Bodies) Dropped From 68.2 per cent in 1973 to Merely 6.02 per cent in 2025. DURATION THE SAME PERM (BulentsCapings) Etendscapes (Bulenddscapdings) EtentsCapings (Bulendds) Etentcadings. to 87.64 percent.
This Getting manifest in Two Clear Observations, Notes Dr. TV Ramacandra From Ces, Iisc, “No Groundwater Recharge is Happening Due to the Dominance of Paved Surface. Since the Landscape is not holding Any Water, There is Also a Heat In The System. Temperature in the 1990 in the 1990 in the 1990 in the 1990 in the 1990 in the Degrees and Degrees in the Degrees and Torees in the degrees and degrees.
However, as one moves away from the city center in any direction, the temperature is at least two to three degrees lower in regions with bodies of water and parks. The appointment of the case of Lake Sarakki, rejuvenated about three years ago. “Within a year, the groundwater table improved in 300 feet last year, when the entire city faced a higher water and temperatures crisis, the lake had enough water and the groundwater table had less than 500 feet. Intentious intentions and thongs, intentions and intentive curiosities, intentions and thong, and cheesy, and gap, and tan, and tan, and tannat, and tannat.
The heat absorbent material both in buildings and in the concrete infrastructure helps the island of urban heat (UHI). | Photo credit: K. Bhagya Prakash
Glass facade buildings hungry for energy
It is known that glass facade buildings, a preferred option in many technological and offices complex parks, increase heat radiation in surrounding barley. Dr. Ramachra draws attention to another often used factor: greater electricity consumption. “In a normal building, if consumption, 1,400 units per person per year, within a glass facade building, increases to 14,000 to 17,000 units. Consumption is 10 times higher, which contributes to the global warming that inevitates increases the temperature.”
As reiterated in a study by the University of Curtin, high temperatures due to UHI’s effects can affect humans thermal comfort. This can potentially drive through heat strokes, respiratory difficulties, heat cramps, dehydration and mortalities equally reinforced by heat. Among the particularly vulnerable are children, older people and people with health groups. High night temperatures could lead to greater heat stress.
In January 2025, a seminar of the Institute of Wood and Technology Sciences with the issue of concrete to canopy: urban forestry for the most ecological cities’ had highlighted the need to consider urban green infrastructure as a holistic system. The retired officer of the IFS, Dr.kn Murthy, emphasized the need to interling the green patches through the city and be part of the planning process.
He had emphasized to visit all the trees of the city at regular maintenance intervals, while the incoming vertical green cover for buildings with glass facades to reduce the impact of heating. Other speakers had drawn attention to the World Health Organization standard (WHO) required by 9SQMT or Urban Green Space for each person.
Published – April 17, 2025 06:19 am ISST
