A new audit of Delhi’s urban green spaces reveals a city at a critical juncture, where vital climate infrastructure is neglected, leaving residents and urban biodiversity highly vulnerable to record-breaking heatwaves. The findings from a recent survey of 50 parks across the capital highlight a startling paradox: while these green spaces serve as life-saving buffers against extreme heat, a majority are ill-equipped to serve their purpose, lacking essential amenities for both human and animal populations. This report underscores a concerning policy disconnect, where green cover is celebrated in rhetoric but not in practice.
The audit has provided undeniable evidence of the cooling power of urban forests. A significant average surface temperature difference of 10°C was recorded between shaded green areas and adjacent concrete zones. In some instances, this variance was as stark as 20°C, with concrete peaking at a staggering 53.3°C while tree-covered spots in the same park remained at a relatively manageable 35°C. This data makes a compelling business case for investing in and protecting green infrastructure, demonstrating its tangible economic and social value in building a climate-resilient city. Yet, the report also exposed a series of systemic failures, revealing that urban planning is prioritising concrete over canopies.
A major finding points to the critical lack of basic amenities. The survey revealed that a staggering 78% of the parks audited were devoid of public drinking water facilities, a glaring oversight in a city enduring prolonged heatwaves. Furthermore, access to these limited green oases is severely restricted. Over two-thirds of the parks were found to be shut during night hours, precisely when low-income communities, who often lack cooling at home, could seek much-needed respite from the lingering heat. This disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, exacerbating social inequities and heat vulnerability.
The report also brought to light the city’s neglect of urban wildlife. While a significant number of parks had water bowls, nearly all were provisioned by local citizens or caretakers, not by official authorities. Most troubling was the complete absence of any official provision for nests or birdhouses in any of the parks surveyed, leaving urban birdlife critically exposed to the scorching temperatures. This points to a broader failure in the management of these spaces, which should function as integrated ecosystems rather than purely human-centric recreational zones.
Moreover, the audit confirmed that the city’s green cover, while statistically significant at 25% of its geographical area, is inequitably distributed. It is heavily concentrated in just five districts, leaving large, congested, and low-income areas of the city with minimal access to this vital heat-mitigating infrastructure. The report argues that without a cohesive, city-wide strategy for equitable green space development, Delhi’s much-lauded green cover remains a statistic rather than a genuine asset for all its citizens.
The findings serve as an urgent call to action, demanding a paradigm shift in urban governance. The city cannot afford to lose its “lung spaces,” which are not merely ornamental but life-saving infrastructure. It is imperative that policy makers recognise parks and urban forests as essential tools for climate resilience and social equity. This requires an immediate halt to the concretisation of urban forests and a commitment to ensuring that every citizen, regardless of their neighbourhood, has access to well-maintained, accessible, and ecologically vibrant green spaces. The future of Delhi’s resilience to climate change hinges on its ability to protect and expand these vital natural assets.
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