India, March 30 -- Our city is getting hotter with every passing year. As temperatures soared yesterday, the Karnataka Government advised citizens to turn into camels: "Drink sufficient water whenever possible, even if you are NOT thirsty."

But where is the water to drink when our cities are as dry as a desert? Instead of just issuing some orders from their AC chambers in Vidhana Soudha, shouldn't the Government authorities get their hands dirty and plant some 'green guardians' to fight this heat wave for the long haul?

It has been confirmed that trees are the only way to scuttle urban heat waves. Yet, our Government doesn't do much to that end.

In 2013, scientists ran a simple experiment in Bengaluru. They compared stretches of roads ...