‘Severe heatwaves to hit Hyderabad’ | Hyderabad News

Lead author of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) second working group’s report, Anjal Prakash, in a chat with Sribala Vadlapatla says Hyderabad will be impacted severely by heatwaves
If the predictions of the report are applied to Hyderabad, what are the concerns for the city?
IPCC reports are global in scope and cities are extensively covered in this report released on Monday. We can decipher some of the findings for Hyderabad. It is predicted that heatwaves will worsen in the Indian sub-continent in the future, and Hyderabad, being in a warm climate, will be directly affected by this. Heatwaves combined with the urban heat island effect could be fatal for the elderly and those with co-morbidities.
What about flooding? Will city be in for more rains?
It is expected that the variability of rainfall will increase. High-intensity rainfall is expected, including heavy downpours that could flood Hyderabad. People in low-lying areas are already witnessing heavy floods.
What is the way-out to overcome intense heatwaves and frequent flooding?
Addressing short-term climate-related risks is just as important for Hyderabad as reducing emissions and other pollutants. Climate-resilient infrastructure and decentralised and inclusive climate governance should be adapted. Haritha Haram type of programmes should be expanded to include urban and peri-urban areas.
What measures should be initiated to overcome these problems?
Hyderabad has a beautiful ‘blue infrastructure’ (referring to water bodies like rivers, canals, ponds, wetlands and floodplains) which is slowly deteriorating. Protection of urban lakes and their cascades is urgently needed. Our drainage system needs to be re-evaluated in the light of recent climate trends and possible solutions should be implemented as soon as possible. Also, long-term mitigation efforts could be a goal that could show the way forward for other cities in India.