The city has witnessed rapid change in the last two decades and the fastest growth was observed in the last 10-12 years. However,  the development happened without any regulations or restrictions over which area should be developed, what kind of buildings should come up, and what material should be used. This resulted in a lot of violations.

On one side is unregulated concrete development, on the other side is the shrinkage of open spaces, parks and lakes. The lakes, which regulate the microclimate and keep the surroundings cool, have been lost over a period of time. More than 50% of lakes are now gone. So, the net result is that the city has become a radiation pocket, so more the radiation, more the water evaporates and the area becomes a vacuum. It sucks the clouds, especially rain-bearing clouds, so that’s why we’re experiencing these sudden outbursts last month.

Climate change is not limited by coastline. It will have an influence on dry areas too. I think its high time the government makes sure that the development of the city should affect the environment of the city.

I think as the people of the community we need to take our small steps such as recycling.

Plastic water bottles are the worst enemy one can have indoors. People often dispose of plastic bottles irresponsibly after use and thus harm the environment. With a little use of creativity, plastic bottles can come to good use. For instance, you can cut off the bottom halves of the plastic bottles and plant seedlings in them. These nifty plant-holders are easy to craft and will be a great addition to your garden space.

Aluminum foil has various uses in our daily lives and can be real handy at times. However, their disadvantage, like that of unused plastic items, is that they are non-biodegradable. But fret not, there are ways to upcycle and reuse aluminium foil, rather than disposing it off after one use - you can place the foil behind plants in the shade and use the foil as a reflector.

When we buy fruits or vegetables, we often throw away the useless bits without realizing that they can be put to better use. A countertop composter is an easy way to stash away your compostable food scraps for later use in your garden. After all, you're paying for the whole fruit or vegetable, so why not use the inedible parts as well?

Don’t just club all your waste together. Make provision for separate wet waste and dry waste disposal. Wet waste is fruit and vegetable peels, teabags and leftover food. Dry waste includes wood, metal, glass and related products. Dry waste usually ends up in landfills, and the wet waste can go back into your compost bin. Segregating waste is important for the environment.

If you're one of those people who gets their newspaper delivered regularly then this recycling technique is the best fit for you. Instead of stocking up your old newspapers, you can use them as a packing paper to wrap up your fragile items or gifts. You can also use a newspaper as a cleaning aid by mixing water and a splash of white vinegar to clean your window stains, effortlessly.

While single-use plastic items are common in our lives, their frequent usage can also have a negative impact disturbing the ecology surrounding us. For example, a plastic item can take up to 1000 years to decompose. That’s why many countries have taken a pledge to get rid of single-use plastic items once and for all. You too can adopt a healthy practice of replacing plastic items with eco-friendly substitutes. Start off by replacing your plastic toothbrushes with biodegradable toothbrushes, plastic stemmed cotton buds with biodegradable paper stemmed cotton buds and plastic straws with reusable biodegradable bamboo straws to name a few.