Bhubaneswar: Rapid urbanisation in and around Bhubaneswar, Puri and nearby coastal region over the last two decades significantly raised land surface temperatures and led to a sharp loss of green cover, a new scientific study conducted by researchers from Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) has found.
The study reveals that the built-up area in the region jumped from about 21.5% in 2000 to nearly 40% in 2020 and in the same period, the average land surface temperature increased by around 4.65°C, reflecting the intensifying urban heat island effect in coastal Odisha.
“Urban expansion has come at a clear environmental cost. As natural surfaces are replaced by concrete, asphalt and buildings, the land’s ability to regulate temperature weakens, leading to sustained heat buildup,” Sailabala Padhi, former director of Center for Environment Studies, said.
Using multi-year Landsat satellite data, the researchers mapped land-use and land-cover changes across the east and south-eastern coastal plain zone, which includes Khurda, Puri, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur and Nayagarh districts. Their assessment shows that the forest cover declined from nearly 34% of the total area in 2000 to about 19% in 2020.
“The pace of urbanisation in Bhubaneswar has been particularly rapid due to population growth, infrastructural projects and real estate expansion. Puri, being a major pilgrimage and tourism hub, has also expanded both horizontally and vertically, putting pressure on its natural landscape,” environmentalist Bijay Mishra said.
The study notes that minimum land surface temperatures rose by more than 5°C and maximum temperatures by nearly 3°C over the two-decade period. Experts say such changes increase the frequency and intensity of heat stress, especially during summer months.
Urban planning and climate experts say the findings should serve as a warning. “This research clearly quantifies what residents have been feeling for years: that cities are getting hotter as green spaces disappear. Without urgent intervention, the livability of these cities will decline sharply,” Diptesh Nanda, an urban climate expert, said.
The study underscores the urgent need for sustainable urban planning, including green infrastructure, to mitigate heat island effects and preserve natural ecosystems in rapidly growing coastal cities.
