Sun Feb 23 17:41:46 UTC 2025: ## Chennai Faces Growing Threat of Extreme Heat and Flooding Amidst Rapid Urbanization

**Chennai, February 24, 2025** – Chennai is grappling with increasingly severe summer heat waves and devastating floods, a trend experts attribute to rapid urbanization and the resulting loss of green spaces and water bodies. A projected temperature increase of 1.9 degrees Celsius by 2040 and 2.9 degrees Celsius by 2080 threatens the city, according to former IAS officer V. Thiruppugazh, head of the Advisory Committee on Mitigation and Management of Flood Risk in the Chennai Metropolitan Area.

Data from the ‘Beating the Heat: Tamil Nadu Heat Mitigation Strategy’ report reveals a 59% increase in areas experiencing temperatures between 24°C and 26°C between 2003 and 2023. The Urban Heat Island effect in Chennai and Tiruvallur has risen by nearly 3°C. Heatwave days in Chennai are projected to surge from 42 days (1985-2014) to 81 days (2021-2050).

Experts recommend a multi-pronged approach to mitigate these challenges. This includes improved land-use planning, prioritizing the creation of parks and farming areas in flood-prone zones instead of residential construction. Strengthening infrastructure with taller compound walls and improved drainage systems is also crucial. Furthermore, the reforestation initiative should extend to private entities, echoing the Madras High Court’s order of planting 10 saplings for every tree felled.

The ‘Approach Paper to Chennai Climate Action Plan’ by INHAF highlights the shrinking wetlands, advocating for a significant increase in green cover (from 6-12% to 25%) and relocating the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) inland by 500 meters to prevent further construction. The report also suggests replacing waste-to-energy plants with bio-methanation for cleaner waste processing. Promoting energy-efficient building materials and mandating air-conditioner temperature settings at 26°C are also key recommendations.

The degradation of water bodies, including the Pallikaranai marsh, Kovalam wetlands, and the Kosasthalaiyar river, is a major concern. Poor maintenance of drainage systems further exacerbates flooding. Experts emphasize the urgent need for water security strategies to bolster flood and climate resilience, including restoring wetlands, rejuvenating rivers, and removing industrial encroachments. The Greater Chennai Corporation is currently gathering data on heat-related studies to formulate a new heat wave mitigation plan.

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