Brace for more extreme weather in Trichy in 20 years

Trichy: Directorate of town and country planning (DTCP) has released the master plan for Trichy local planning area (LPA), encompassing 804.5sq km, covering Trichy corporation limits, two municipalities, four town panchayats, and 104 revenue villages. With projections for 2045-46, the new master plan rolled out after 15 years forecast a potential rise in maximum temperatures and more extreme rainfall events in the next 20 years. The plan document suggests urban forests and riparian buffers as ways to overcome heat stress and flooding risks. Hotter Summer, More Heavy Rain The LPA accounts for 18.2% of Trichy district area and accommodates 52.6% of the district's population. The study area covers Trichy city, Thuvakudi and Lalgudi municipalities, Koothappar, Poovalur, Manachanallur, and S Kannanur town panchayat areas, besides 91 village panchayats. A comparison between the 2011 and 2025 master plans shows that residential land use did not increase significantly, but commercial land use surged, primarily on arterial roads. Residential properties are developed more on the outer parts of the LPA, mostly in peripheries where Trichy corporation is set to expand. While the focus of master plan 2025 for Trichy LPA revolves around mobility, balanced development, and heritage conservation, the document gave insights into climate risk vulnerabilities of Trichy. The new master plan said in its long-term climate analysis that Trichy LPA may face a 0.7-to-0.9-degree Celsius increase in maximum temperatures. Climate projections for 2046 also indicate a 6.3% increase in extreme rainfall events, necessitating heat mitigation strategies and robust stormwater management infrastructure. Dispersed Urban Development"To combat heat stress, urban forests of approximately 113 acres are proposed to reduce temperatures by about 1-3 degrees Celsius. Riparian buffers of 50 metres along the Cauvery and Kollidam rivers, and of 15 metres along Aiyar and Koraiyar rivers, are proposed to mitigate flood risks and climate change impacts," a source involved in drafting the plan said. Limited vegetation cover, high built-up density, and impervious surfaces contribute to increase in surface temperature, flood risks, and reduced groundwater levels. This despite only 28% of wards in the city having an extremely high population density, such as Rockfort, Srirangam, and Big Bazaar streets. Compared to other mid-sized cities, Trichy has dispersed urban development."A few urban forests and sponge parks to tackle heat stress are insufficient. With increasing land prices, LPA should develop landbanks with necessary infrastructure for balanced growth," Kapilan Chandranesan, a Trichy-based urban planner, said. Heritage and Tourism Potential Less LeveragedTo promote the heritage and tourism sector, the master plan recommended tourist trails and tourism circuits under a public private partnership model, collaborating with NGOs. Srirangam and Thiruvanaikoil temple trails, heritage churches, and Islamic heritage trails were suggested to boost the economy through tourism. "Even with Srirangam's tentative Unesco listing, many aspects of the district's history remain under-promoted and unnoticed by international tourists," the master plan said. Trichy corporation sources said that urban forestry improvement is being focused on to reduce environmental heat stress, and tanks are identified to be redeveloped to combat climate change risks.