The culprit behind the killer heat and dust in Delhi
Experts say Aravalli's mindless destruction is leading to desertification in NCR. Will agencies act now to protect this buffer?
On Monday, Delhi's temperature touched an all-time June high of 48 degrees Celsius, triggering a record number of heat related cases and prompting doctors to declare an emergency and call the situation dangerous.
A day later, the city was caught in a bad dust storm. Though there was a marginal respite from heat as the mercury dropped a few notches amid light rainfall, air pollution levels spiked rapidly because of dust-laden winds.
"Though the temperature came down today, increased air pollution caused discomfort. It was hard to step out because of dust," said Barkha, a Delhi resident.
Dr Vikas Maurya, the respiratory department head at Fortis Hospital, confirmed dust is badly affecting those suffering with asthma and other breathing illnesses. "The extreme heat was already causing lots of health complications," he said.
Dust is badly affecting those suffering with asthma and other breathing illnesses. The extreme heat was already causing lots of health complications.
Before 2000,temperatures increased and decreased.But for nearly 20 years,temperatures have only gone up and summers are getting hotter with each passing year.
Dr SP Byotra, chairman, internal medicine at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, also acknowledged the compounding crisis. The maximum temperature in Delhi is likely to oscillate between 41 and 43 degrees Celsius in the next two days.
Experts say the rising temperatures and recurring dust storms aren't just natural phenomena - they are man-made crises to a great extent.
7,777 hectares was Delhi’s ridge area, but it has shrunk by 25% over the years, say experts.
A mindless destruction of the Aravallis that protects the region from heat waves and dust storms is leading to the region's rapid desertification, they say.
The Aravalli mountain range spans four states: Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi. Its last stretch is Delhi's Ridge that's fast vanishing because of roads, residential colonies, religious and other institutions, besides security force camps.
This series of low hills covered with dense scrub forests is ecologically vital also because it cleans up toxic air, ensures longer rains and aids in groundwater recharge. But it's being lost to illegal construction and encroachment, after a massive mining assault in the past, despite multiple court orders.
Noted environmentalist CR Babu said, "The Yamuna and the Ridge were the main heat and dust barriers for the people in Delhi. But unfortunately, the river has been reduced to a sewage drain and the city lungs are under a massive construction and mining assault," he said.
Experts say that Delhi's Ridge spread over 7,777 hectares has shrunk by 25 per cent over the years.
"How can you expect the heat to be absorbed and dust storm to be kept away when we have lost so much of vegetation in the Ridge? Various reports have suggested that in several portions, the green cover has been flattened. This is alarming and authorities should wake up and think of a large-scale solution rather than blaming each other," Babu said.
Ridge was the main heat and dust barrier in delhi. it’s under a massive construction and mining assault now. in several portions, it has been flattened.this is alarming and authorities should wake up rather than blaming each other.
Diwan Singh of Ridge Bachao Aandolan said the barrier against hot winds coming from Rajasthan has been concretised by different government agencies. "No wonder, Delhi has been suffering," he said.
Environmentalist Aditya N Prasad said uncontrolled concretisation has pushed Delhi’s temperature up by four-five notches.
Unless there is a check on concretisation, we cannot expect things to improve. There are no trees to hold the soil, he said. Ashok Jaswal, a former scientist with the Indian Meteorological Department, also said that the mean temperatures have been increasing over the last two decades. Before 2000, temperatures increased and decreased. But for nearly 20 years, temperatures have only gone up and summers are getting hotter with each passing year, he said.
The barrier against hot winds has been concretised by different government agencies. No wonder,Delhi has been suffering.
The killer air
Life expectancy in India has gone down by 2.6 years due to deadly diseases caused by air pollution, according to a report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). Air pollution is now the third highest cause of death among all health risks ranking just above smoking, it said.
What’s the Aravalli mountain range?
It spans four states: Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi. Its last stretch is Delhi’s Ridge that’s fast vanishing because of roads, residential colonies, religious and other institutions, besides security force camps. It also cleans up toxic air, ensures longer rains and aids in groundwater recharge.
(With inputs from Prashasti Shandilya and Priyanka Sharma)