Hyderabad gets hotter as lakes dry up and buildings replace green spaces

Hyderabad’s cooler belts, Jubilee Hills, Kapra, and the Hayathnagar–Saroornagar corridor have become hotbeds of rising temperatures, with data showing that these neighbourhoods have consistently recorded some of the highest heat levels in the city in recent years.

As the rest of the city struggles at the 40°C mark this summer, these three pockets have soared beyond, with recorded highs already touching 42.5°C in Jubilee Hills, 42.1°C in Kapra, and 41.8°C in the Hayathnagar–Saroornagar belt. Forecasts indicate the mercury may climb further to 43°C, pushing Hyderabad into the grip of a harsher urban climate crisis than previously recorded. The phenomenon, while broadly linked to global climate change, is rooted in hyperlocal disruptions to the city’s natural cooling systems. What was once a city defined by rocky terrain, rich water bodies, and natural vegetation is now witnessing rampant construction and environmental neglect. Urban researchers and environmental observers have flagged the growing disparity in microclimates within Hyderabad—attributed to flawed planning, shrinking green buffers, and near-total disregard for sustainable development in high-density zones.

Jubilee Hills, for instance, had a naturally elevated topography with sloping terrain that allowed wind flow and heat dissipation. However, years of unregulated vertical growth, with concrete structures replacing open slopes and villas replacing vegetation, have reversed its microclimate advantage. Glass façades, asphalt roads, and construction materials with high thermal retention are contributing to what researchers define as the ‘urban heat island’ effect, where built-up areas trap and radiate more heat than their surroundings. Today, the area that once hosted pleasant evening breezes now radiates heat well past sunset, with little to no green canopy to offer respite. In contrast, Kapra’s transformation is driven by the disappearance of its lakes. Once home to multiple interconnected water bodies such as Kapra Lake, Safilguda Lake, and Banda Cheruvu, the area benefitted from evaporative cooling and higher moisture retention. These lakes functioned as natural temperature regulators, creating pockets of cooler air around them. However, a mix of encroachments, sewage inflow, and neglect has degraded these reservoirs. Kapra Lake, for instance, holds just a fifth of its original water volume. The resulting loss of humidity and rise in surface temperatures have made the area one of the most thermally vulnerable in Hyderabad.

Meanwhile, the Hayathnagar–Saroornagar region faces a compounded crisis. Located downstream of the Musi River and naturally prone to hot air settling due to its lower elevation, the area has seen rapid degradation of both its green cover and groundwater reserves. With water tables plunging to depths of 15 metres and limited tree buffers, residents endure hotter days and warmer nights, exacerbated by heat-trapping infrastructure and emissions from adjacent highways such as the Outer Ring Road and National Highway 65. The basin-like topography, once a natural catchment for rainwater, now merely traps heat, dust, and pollutants.

Hyderabad’s heat island effect is no longer confined to textbook warnings—it is playing out in real time across its most urbanised precincts. The pressing need of the hour is for city planners to adopt climate-responsive infrastructure, revitalise water bodies, and restore green lungs to mitigate rising urban temperatures. Without urgent interventions and enforceable climate policies, Hyderabad may soon become a cautionary tale of how rapid urbanisation, if unchecked, can turn thriving localities into thermal deserts.

Also Read :https://urbanacres.in/indore-gets-4-acres-for-green-revolution/

Hyderabad gets hotter as lakes dry up and buildings replace green spaces