BHOPAL: With mercury touching record high, parks wore deserted look in the state capital. There was a time when day temperature used to be nearly 35 degrees Celsius in peak summer and people used to visit parks in morning and evening.
But now conditions are different, heat wave continues to sweep the city from 9 am to 9 pm. Instead of getting relief, people would get exposure to sun stroke if they visit parks. In 1990, forest cover was 66 per cent in the state capital but at present it is just 16 per cent because of unplanned urbanisation and if things go in the same fashion, by 2025 it will remain just 4 per cent.
Shrinking water bodies and unplanned disposal of waste are also causing rise in temperature. Intense heat is forcing parents not to send their wards to parks and play grounds for sports activities. They prefer indoor games and explore other hobbies to keep their children at home on a safer side.
A large number of children go to TT Nagar Stadium for swimming and to take coaching in various sports in their summer vacations but with mercury touching new high and hot winds start blowing from morning is creating a lot of problems for children.
So parents either prefer their wards to stay at home or send them to stadium for indoor games. Seeing a sudden rise in number of children preferring indoor games, TT Nagar stadium administration has put restriction on new entries as it has to make arrangements for coaches.
Similarly many children have joined water sports and swimming. Swimming pools have to fix separate slots for children. Children have also joined music and dance classes, singing, paintings etc in summer instead of playing in parks and getting exposure to sun stroke.
