Temperatures soar in Bhubaneswar and other parts of Orissa as the civic authorities go on a tree-cutting spree to widen city roads, reports Dhrutikam Mohanty
Bhubaneswar, well-known for its ancient temples, may very soon be identified as one of the hottest capitals of the country. It became the hottest city of Orissa when the temperature touched 42 degrees on March 23. As per meteorological office records, this is the hottest-ever March in Bhubaneswar in the last five years.
In 2005, the highest temperature in March was 39.6 degrees. It climbed to 40.8 in 2006. But in 2007, 2008 and 2009 March was comparatively cool as the highest temperatures were 38.3, 38 and 39.4 degrees respectively. Though situated in the eastern coastal plains, Bhubaneswar, Orissa's capital, experiences unbearable heat when the mercury touches 45 degree Celsius during April-May every year!
Environmentalists believe that one of the major reasons behind this unprecedented rise in temperature is wanton cutting of trees. However, in Orissa, trees seem to have become the biggest enemies of both government agencies and the common folk. While there are several instances of government bodies cutting down trees in the name of development activities like widening of roads or construction of a bridge, the common man is destroying the city's green lings even for unnecessary purposes like road blockades and protests.
As per an estimate, the state witnessed more than 2,000 road blockades in different districts last year. And in a majority of these cases, trees were at the receiving end. This, however, did not include the communal riots in Kandhamal where thousands of trees were uprooted.
Bhubaneswar, well-known for its ancient temples, may very soon be identified as one of the hottest capitals of the country. It became the hottest city of Orissa when the temperature touched 42 degrees on March 23. As per meteorological office records, this is the hottest-ever March in Bhubaneswar in the last five years.
In 2005, the highest temperature in March was 39.6 degrees. It climbed to 40.8 in 2006. But in 2007, 2008 and 2009 March was comparatively cool as the highest temperatures were 38.3, 38 and 39.4 degrees respectively. Though situated in the eastern coastal plains, Bhubaneswar, Orissa's capital, experiences unbearable heat when the mercury touches 45 degree Celsius during April-May every year!
Environmentalists believe that one of the major reasons behind this unprecedented rise in temperature is wanton cutting of trees. However, in Orissa, trees seem to have become the biggest enemies of both government agencies and the common folk. While there are several instances of government bodies cutting down trees in the name of development activities like widening of roads or construction of a bridge, the common man is destroying the city's green lings even for unnecessary purposes like road blockades and protests.
As per an estimate, the state witnessed more than 2,000 road blockades in different districts last year. And in a majority of these cases, trees were at the receiving end. This, however, did not include the communal riots in Kandhamal where thousands of trees were uprooted.
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