###Rising Tourism Shrinking Natural Cooling Zones, Intensifying Heat in Udaipur
Udaipur:Growing tourism pressure is steadily eroding natural cooling zones in Udaipur, leading to a noticeable rise in temperatures. This concern was strongly voiced during a “Lake Dialogue” held on Sunday, where environmental experts and citizens highlighted the long-term risks of unchecked urbanization.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Anil Mehta, Principal of Vidya Bhawan Polytechnic, pointed out that natural surfaces such as soil and open land are rapidly disappearing. “Asphalt and concrete absorb and retain heat, significantly raising surface and ambient temperatures,” he explained. He also warned that the continuous cutting of the Aravalli Range—which historically acted as a barrier against desert expansion—is worsening the city’s climate conditions.
Referring to global environmental studies by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, Dr. Mehta noted that a combination of lakes, trees, and green spaces—such as Gulab Bagh—can reduce urban temperatures by up to five degrees Celsius. Even roadside greenery and vegetation around homes can lower temperatures by nearly four degrees, while preserving patches of natural soil instead of full concretization can bring down heat by about three degrees.
Former Lake Development Authority member Tej Shankar Paliwal emphasized that the increasing number of tourist vehicles and continuous use of air conditioning in hotels are further heating the environment. “The lack of trees, rising tourism density, and air pollution have created a heat trap in the city, where temperatures remain high even at night,” he said, adding that the impact is most severe in the inner city and is affecting not just residents but also animals and birds.
Nand Kishore Sharma, Director of Gandhi Manav Kalyan Samiti, observed that urbanization is spreading rapidly to surrounding villages, with resorts and multi-storey constructions increasing heat intensity there as well. He stressed the need to reassess current tourism expansion models.
Echoing similar concerns, Kushal Rawal from Abhinav Sansthan highlighted the disappearance of small water bodies due to residential and commercial construction. “These ponds once played a crucial role in regulating the city’s temperature. Restoring them is essential to protect Udaipur from extreme climatic impacts,” he said.
Youth social worker Vinod Kumawat called for immediate efforts to prevent the city from turning into a “concrete jungle” and to restore its identity as a lake and garden city.
Before the dialogue, participants carried out a cleanliness drive at Bari Ghat, which was heavily littered, reinforcing the message that environmental protection must begin with collective responsibility.
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