Bengaluru: The city’s rapidly rising temperatures have pushed it to confront an uncomfortable reality — parts of its once-temperate landscape are turning into urban heat traps. Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) has now launched the first phase of a citywide, data-driven strategy to identify and mitigate urban heat islands, working with organisations such as Sensing Local and Hasiru Dala.As part of this pilot, key hotspots, including Peenya Industrial Area and Hennur Bande in HBR Layout, have been identified. Based on the outcomes of this initial phase, the programme will be extended to other parts of the city.Hennur Bande, once a stone quarry, has since been transformed into a 10-acre flat parcel surrounded by a 20-acre buffer zone. Authorities now plan to convert this underutilised land into a climate-responsive urban park aimed at improving air quality, enhancing green cover, and reducing localised temperatures.“This initiative is part of the heat resilience programme under the C40 Cities mission. Bengaluru was selected among 33 other C40 Cities mission even before the formation of GBA, and two major heat islands were identified — Peenya Industrial Area and Hennur Bande,” said Pommala Sunil Kumar, Bengaluru North City Corporation commissioner.Originally, officials proposed developing a five-acre Miyawaki forest at the site. However, resistance from local residents, who wanted to retain open play areas, forced a redesign. “We have now created a plan to accommodate both the playground and the forest. Rs 20 crore has been allocated under the climate action wing,” he said. Hennur Bande in HBR Layout recorded a mean land surface temperature of 37°C during peak summer months (March-May 2024), according to satellite data, he added.Rapid urbanisation has led to a surge in impermeable surfaces, intensifying the urban heat island (UHI) effect. Compounding the problem is a severe shortage of green space — just 1sqm per capita. The redevelopment aims to expand tree canopy cover, leveraging evapotranspiration and shading to create a cooler microclimate.Over the past five years, Bengaluru’s maximum temperatures have steadily increased. According to the Sensing Local and Hasiru Dala report, Bengaluru has witnessed a 1,078% increase in built-up area, alongside an 88% decline in vegetation and 79% reduction in waterbodies. The shift from porous landscapes to paved surfaces has disrupted the city’s ecology, hydrology, and overall liveability. Difficulties at workOutdoor workers, including construction labourers, pourakarmikas, street vendors, and traffic police, face heightened health risks and economic losses. “Over 73% of sanitation workers operate during peak heat hours, and 92% reported heat significantly affects their work, with women facing greater difficulty. Employees report difficulty breathing, dehydration, and fatigue,” said Rajendra KV, Bengaluru West city corporation commissioner.The administration is developing a network of cooling infrastructure. Two primary health centres in Hegganahalli and Tippenahalli are being upgraded into dedicated cooling centres, equipped with drinking water, shaded rest areas, and public awareness materials. Additionally, the city plans to repurpose existing public assets into heat relief zones, including 163 Indira Canteens, 109 Namma Clinics, and 143 urban primary health centres.
