Climate Chronicles : Bangalore's Battle Against Extreme Weather and Pollution

Earlier this month I was walking to the nearest bus stand, 100m away from the metro station where I had just de-boarded the train. I was oblivious to the usual sight of racing cars, unruly bikers and pedestrians walking on the side of the road, gauging an invisible footpath ahead. By the time I reached my bus station, I was parched only to finish my half a litre bottle in jiffy. That is when my attention caught a few traffic policemen and got me wondering how many bottles of water it takes to keep them sane in this dry and piercing heat.  

Traffic Policemen out in the summer sun. Pic Credit : Sherin Sunny

Bhaskar is in his mid 40s. As a traffic policeman, he spends most of his day out in the sun. Amidst the honking vehicles and screeching of tyres when trying to save an unruly pedestrian, the sun’s heat is one among the many annoyances he faces on the streets. However, things have been changing over the last few years especially during the summers. No amount of sunscreens and hydration is helping Bhaksar to beat the heat of the scorching sun. 

Any long-time resident of Bengaluru might find the hyper-change of the city, in almost every aspect, to be agonising, and they are right to feel that way. The city has constantly been evolving and changing so much that we hardly ever have time to pause and gauge the difference. The lack of pause in this anxious and excitable city has become convenient in ignoring the drizzle of multiple minor destructions in the name of urbanisation that are becoming the recipe for a slow-cooked, irreversible, and possibly major climate calamity. The observable change in the weather of Bengaluru has been a topic of multiple discourses, and rightfully so, as this needs our absolute attention to save what’s left and to reverse what can be reversed. Our research is to understand the factors behind the rise in temperature in Bengaluru city. 

Source : https://www.tutiempo.net/amp-en/climate/ws-432950.html

For this article, we have used information from various public and commercial sources, including the pollution control board, to comprehend how human activity affects climate change. In order to identify trends in greenhouse gas/carbon emissions, dust, and other environmental issues that contribute to global warming, we have examined the relevant data. Effectiveness of the laws and policies put in place to lessen the negative effects of human activity on the environment is another aspect that has been discussed in this article.

Air Pollution - A Catalyst to Rising Temperature

The city has an enormous concentration of automobiles, industry, and construction activities, all of which contribute to releasing numerous pollutants into the atmosphere. An increase in particulate matter in the air traps heat, which contributes to the greenhouse effect, and eventually leads to a rise in temperature. 

During 2020-21, the National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP) in Karnataka State monitored the ambient air quality of Bengaluru city at 20 locations, covering Industrial areas, Residential areas, Commercial areas, and Sensitive areas. Data shows that although the levels of SO2, NO2, and NH3 in the air are within the national limit, the high levels of PM10 and PM2.5 particles are still a cause for concern as they can have severe health implications. In particular, PM10 particles can cause shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing, while PM2.5 particles can lead to chronic bronchitis, heart attacks, and stroke.

Source : Annual Report 2020-21, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board

Reports suggest that unpaved roads, poorly managed traffic, construction industry not following environmental norms are causing high PM levels.  

Population Boom and Unplanned Urbanisation

According to statistics provided by the traffic department, currently more than 2500 vehicles are being registered each day in Bengaluru alone. “Major sources of air pollution are vehicular movements and resuspension of dust”, says Jayaprakash Nayak, Senior Scientist, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB). A major reason for the increase in vehicles is the increase in population. According to Population Census data, the population in the city in 2011 was 9,621,551 and the same value projected for 2021 is 13,480,000. This is a whooping 40% estimated growth in the population. The rapid growth in population has brought in an influx of vehicles and urbanisation rampage in the city leading to increased vehicular pollution and loss of green cover, both contributing to the rise in temperature of the city.

Studies show that the land surface temperature has increased by 6 degree celsius between 1989 and 2019 from 32.52 to 38.22 degrees Celsius . Simply put the land surface temperature (LST) is how hot the surface of earth would be at a particular location. Higher LST is associated with increased human activity such as transportation, construction, power generation, all of which releases a lot of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide increase the surface temperature by acting as a barrier for the heat to escape from the earth’s atmosphere. 

Rapid and unplanned urbanisation and subsequent migration into the city has resulted in the creation of urban slums and concrete jungles. With rapid growth and urbanisation of the city and increase in population due to large-scale migration, the city has expanded beyond its initial limits, encroaching green cover and lake beds to facilitate cheap housing. This has led to the creation of urban heat islands. Urban heat islands are formed when natural land cover is replaced with a crowded concentration of buildings, pavements and other man-made surfaces which absorb and retain heat. These pockets of housing with minimal ventilation and space between buildings are a boiling pot that contribute to the higher LST. 

The below images shows the decline in natural vegetation due to rapid urbanisation in Bengaluru since 1973 to 2021.

"In Bangalore, being a traffic police officer is a difficult job that is only becoming more difficult due to the shifting weather patterns and rising pollution levels. The heat and humidity are pressing down on me as I stand on the road all day, making it difficult to concentrate on the traffic. And when the air quality is at its worst, it's not just unpleasant; it's also extremely risky. The actual difficulty, however, lies in maintaining smooth traffic flow despite these hindrances. Anticipating the moves of the cars and directing them to the proper lanes is similar to playing a chess game. And when it rains, it's like everything is starting afresh. Every car becomes a potential hazard as the roads flood; visibility disappears until visibility is completely lost. But I still have a job to complete, regardless of the climate or the degree of pollution. I'm responsible for directing traffic, ensuring everyone's safety, and preserving some order on Bangalore's chaotic roads. Although it's difficult, I delight in consistently performing it effectively", says Bhaskar a traffic policemen on the changing weather of Bengaluru

A security guard from a gated society said, "I am from Assam, and I have been watching over this apartment building for a few years now, and I have witnessed many changes in this city. When I moved to Bangalore, it was tough for me to cope with the weather. But the climate has grown more extreme with hot summers and unpredictable monsoons. Standing here all day, wet in the rain or blistering in the sun, is difficult. But the pollution scares me much more. I must use a mask simply to breathe since the air quality has worsened. I worry about my health as my eyes sting and my throat feels scratchy. Despite my best efforts, the dust and dirt returned to the same space within hours. I used to enjoy my job, but now it feels like a daily battle against the elements. Sometimes I wonder how much longer I can keep doing this."

How to Beat the Summer Heat

The extreme summer heat might be dangerous to one's health. To battle the heat and maintain your health, it's imperative to take both immediate and long-term action. Here are some tips to keep you cool and comfortable during the sweltering heat.

Short-term solutions:

• Remain hydrated: To stay hydrated, consume plenty of water, coconut water, and  other liquids. Alcoholic and sugary drinks should be avoided as they can dehydrate you.
• Wear loose-fitting, light-coloured clothing: Bright colours and loose-fitting clothing help you stay cool by reflecting heat and allowing air to move freely about your body.
• Avoid going outside between noon and four in the afternoon during the hottest portion of the day by staying inside.
• Use fans to keep you cool. Use a wet towel or take a chilly shower to cool off if you don't have an air conditioner.
• Choose small, cool meals because heavy ones can make you feel hot and sluggish. Choose light, cool meals instead, such as salads, fruits, and yoghurt.

Long-term solutions:

• Plant trees or erect buildings for shade: Natural shade is produced by trees and shade structures, which also chill the air around them.
• Install insulation: Insulation keeps your house cool by keeping heat from escaping through the roof and walls.
• Employ energy-efficient appliances to keep your home cooler because they consume less energy and produce less heat.
• Install reflective roofing: Reflective roofing helps to keep your home cool by reflecting heat away from it.
• Install solar panels: Solar panels can help you save energy and lower your carbon footprint, both of which contribute to a decrease in the planet's general temperature.

Temperature change isn’t a result of an individual’s action. Efforts to reduce consumption of polluting products, for example air conditioners, would have an effect on a macro level. However, it is not practically possible to reduce this consumption entirely. Increasing heat requires more air conditioning to cool things down, and the increase in heat and AC consumption rise parallelly. However, the rise of temperature is not uniform throughout, as there are places that are marked hotspots. Hotspots could be a location prone to extreme traffic congestion, high population density, peak hours of commute routes, construction sites and many more. And here we can see that the solution to the rising temperature does not lie in the hands of people alone, as more than often people are just trying to make a living. 

Traffic and vehicles could be seen as the biggest reason behind pollution, which leads to temperature increase. Public transportation is being highly recommended to curb the increase in vehicular pollution, however, more often people avoid public transportation due to poor availability/connectivity or proper maintenance of available public transport. Moreover public transport is slower compared to private transport. Metro works are being done all over the city to curb this issue, but the irony is the construction work that is being done has been one of the major polluters, leading to be an important contributor to temperature increase. And one of the reasons for this increase in pollution from construction sites, apart from the obvious dust, is the improper adherence to waste disposal protocols, as also explained by KSPCB's scientist, Jayaprakash. He also pointed that Bengaluru's pollution hotspots are Mysore Road, Silk Board, Hebbal Junction, and Jayanagar.

Rampant and unplanned development focused only in Bengaluru is stretching out the garden city of the lake city's resources. Better urban planning, expansion and relocation of industries, IT companies and making housing and basic necessities available in newer location could be seen as possible solutions to reduce the concentration of vehicles and people. This too comes with its drawbacks as tree felling or even deforestation can be expected, and not to forget the extortionate cost implementing this project. However, replanting/relocating trees could help maintain the green cover. A project as expensive as this might not be the ideal choice of policy makers, but it should be to save and conserve whatever we have left.