BHUBANESWAR: Gradual disappearance of natural water bodies under the onslaught of development has made Bhubaneswar hotter than Jaipur or Delhi, said experts here on Saturday.
Though Bhubaneswar continues to retain its green canopy despite the Super Cyclone in 1999 and Phailin in 2013, mercury is shooting up during the summer, they said.
Though the city boasted of several water bodies in the past, many have shrunk causing change in climate. This can lead to erratic rainfall and even cloudbursts, Ajit Pattnaik, Project Director of Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project (ICZMP) said.
A 15-hectare water body close to the airport which was charged by a stream shrunk by six hectare while its water had been contaminated by sewage inflow.
There is an urgent need to restore the natural streams and no short term measures would suffice, he added.
He was speaking on ‘Urban Growth and Water Bodies: A Development Conflict’, organised by Institute of Technical Education and Research and Foundation for Environmental and Social Research (FESR) in collaboration with PG Department of Geography of Utkal University and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India.
Speaking on the occasion, Chairman of PG Council, Prof Gopal Krushna Panda said urbanisation is a reality and will continue at a great pace but restoration of environment must keep pace with it, he said adding, water harvesting which has become a world phenomenon must be adopted.