Shun unplanned development, focus on trees and water bodies to keep Doon cool: Experts
Sunday, 11 AUGUST 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Experts emphasised the importance of trees and maintaining the water bodies to prevent a further rise in temperatures being witnessed in Dehradun. They made these points during a discussion programme organised by Dhaad at the Doon Library and Research Centre (DLRC) on Saturday. The programme was aimed at addressing the issues of rising temperatures and unplanned development in Dehradun.
Speaking on the occasion, scientist and environmentalist Ravi Chopra attributed various factors to the increased temperature in Dehradun. He stated that global warming is one of the main contributors to the temperature rise in Doon this year. He added that the cutting down of thousands of trees in the name of development indirectly contributes to global warming and the subsequent rise in temperature. If the city’s development continues at the same pace, it is expected that an additional one lakh trees will be felled in the future, he said.
In addition to deforestation, the increased number of vehicles emitting carbon dioxide was also a major reason behind the rising temperature. Chopra also cited a recent study by the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, which reported Dehradun as a 75 per cent heat island. He emphasised the important role of tree preservation in preventing temperature rise and encouraged people to opt for fans over air conditioners, which also contribute to rising temperatures.
Human rights lawyer and founding president of Rajpur Community Initiative, Reenu Paul pointed out the disturbance created by authorities in watershed areas near Dehradun as another cause of the rising temperatures. She stressed the importance of preserving watersheds and greenery to prevent temperature rise, also highlighting the government’s improper land use as a contributing factor to this year’s increased temperature.
Citizens For Green Doon president Himanshu Arora also expressed concern about the rise in temperature in Dehradun this year, emphasising the importance of preserving and planting more trees to mitigate further rise in temperatures.
