Article
Misses The Shadow In The Hot Sun
- Dr (Ms) Sharad Singh
Writer, Author & Social Activist
Blogger - "Climate Diary Of Dr (Ms) Sharad Singh"
*How difficult it is to stand on the traffic line in the hot summer days and wait for the red light of the signal to turn green, it can be understood by those who stand on the traffic line riding a two wheeler. Helmets get hot, bodies start to burn and small children start to panic at the intensity of the sun. People who go out for urban planning riding on four wheelers cannot understand this. If once he goes on his two wheeler and stands on the traffic line in the scorching heat, surely he will start getting good ideas to save the general public from the sun. It is in the interest of the general public only by whose payment of taxes town planning becomes a reality. So let's think about it.*
Last days I had to go somewhere by scooty around 1:00 pm. As soon as they reached the civil line intersection, a red traffic light appeared there. Due to which we had to stop before the zebra crossing. Within no time my helmet started heating up and my hands felt like they were scorching. While the hot air has not started blowing yet. The edge of sweat started flowing from the temple. It looked like taking off the helmet and wiping off the sweat. But there was not enough time in the traffic line to take off the helmet, wipe the sweat and wear it again. The red light countdown was on. But to tell the truth, standing there, even half a minute seemed like half an era. I saw a motorcycle stopped next to me which was being driven by a man and his wife was sitting behind him with a small child in her arms. The wife had covered the child's head with her saree which was a very thin shade. That child was getting restless in the sun. For those who were in the four wheeler, there was a dense shadow on their head but those who were on bike or scooty had only a helmet on their head which was basking in the sun. Soon the red light changed to green and we all raced past the intersection.
At the time of return, the same situation prevailed, at that time it was around 2:00-2:30. The sun was so hot. Then had to wait for the red light to turn green on the same traffic line. Similarly, the bike riders around wearing helmets were wiping their sweat. The bikes on which small children were present, those children were squirming. Seeing all this, I thought that if there is a shed on the toll block, now it is necessary that such sheds should be made on the traffic line also because the sun is very hot. It is unbearable. Those who walk on a bicycle or bike have to face the hot sun. If sheds are made on the traffic lines then it will be a good shade for those waiting on the traffic line even in rainy season. Standing under which they will be able to avoid getting wet in the rain.
Well, when I returned home, I started remembering all the pages of history in which details of kings planting shady trees on both sides of the road are found. We blame monarchy, of course it is more to blame than democracy. But the way good works were done for the general public at that time can be adopted today. Today we are very happy to see wide beautiful CC roads in our cities. Beautiful ornamental plants grow on the dividers in the middle of the roads. Plants with beautiful flowers are also planted at many places. Somewhere Bougainvillea and somewhere Kaner. Of course, these add to the beauty of the road and the city, but these small trees and plants do not provide shade to the pedestrians. As long as a shadow is needed in the sun, then only the hot sun is available on the head. If we have the right to get shade only while paying the toll tax at the toll barrier, then it should also be remembered that we also pay tax for the arrangement of the road. That way we have the right to get shade anywhere on the street.
Ok! Suppose for a minute that we cannot provide shade to those standing on the traffic line, while it is not difficult to do so, dense shade trees should be planted on both sides of the road. So that balance is maintained in the temperature of the city and road users do not have to face excessive heat. If necessary, they can rest in the shade of a tree. This seemingly unnecessary thing is actually very important. If the town planners and beautifiers of the city once get down from their four wheelers and ride on two wheelers and wait for the signal to change on the traffic line in strong sunlight or heavy rain, then they too will start getting many such ideas which will give rest to passersby.
Actually, the Green Mission prepared for urban planning can help a lot in this direction. It was launched in February, 2014 with the objective to safeguard the biological resources of our nation and associated livelihoods against the peril of adverse climate change and to recognise the vital impact of forestry on ecological sustainability, biodiversity conservation and food, water and livelihood security. Urban areas are facing increasing climate risks and threats to human comfort and environmental justice. Of the four major global risks projected to have a negative decadal consequence on countries through temperature increases, three are primarily environmental—natural disaster, extreme weather and biodiversity loss, with climate action failure as the fourth. In attempts to address these challenges, growing attention is being paid to the potential role of green (such as trees, parks, gardens, playgrounds and forests) and blue (seas, rivers, lakes, wetlands, and water utilities) spaces, often approached through the concept of green and blue infrastructure.
Urban town planning cannot be called just making tall buildings or making wide roads. Arrangement of water and greenery is necessary for all in urban town planning. It does not make sense to develop a small city forest in one area in a big city. It is necessary that at least 4 city forests should be developed in a city with a population of 60 lakh to one crore. Only then the temperature of the city can be kept balanced and a good environment can be given to the citizens. But an even smaller and more immediate task is to create sheds in the traffic line and toll barrier sheds are the best example for this task. Work can also be done to plant dense shady trees on both sides of the companion road, whose spread is up to the pathway only so that there is no problem in the traffic and the pedestrians can get shade when needed. So, go green and stay cool.
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(14.05.2023)
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