Lok Sabha Question No. 1145 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-22
Subject: Rise in Temperature
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: Umesh G. Jadhav, Ramdas Chandrabhanji Tadas, Sangamlal Kadedin Gupta, Chandra Prakash Joshi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1145 TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2019

## RISE IN TEMPERATURE

1145.  DR. UMESH G. JADHAV:

SHRI RAMDAS C. TADAS:

SHRI SANGAM LAL GUPTA:

SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI:

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the rise in temperature taking place in the country during the  summer  season  along  with  the  names  of  places  in  the  country having seen the highest increase in temperature;
- (b) the  diseases  caused  by  the  rise  in  temperature  during  the  summer season;
- (c) the factors responsible for rise/ increase in temperature; and
- (d) whether the Government has formulated any scheme/plans or alternative to control the rise in temperature and curb diseases caused therefrom and if so, the details thereof?

## MINISTER FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND

## ANSWER MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

- (a) The time series of temperature anomaly for the country during summer season (March to May) is given in figure 1 and the spatial temperature trend  over  the  country  is  given  in  figure  2.  The  maximum  increase  in temperature  (around  3  Degree  Celsius)  is  observed  over  Uttarakhand, whereas an increase of the order of about 2 Deg. C is observed over the parts of East Rajasthan and East Madhya Pradesh.
- (b) Abnormal  temperature  events  can  impose  severe  physiological  stress on  the  human  body  as  the  body  operates  best  within  a  fairly  normal temperature  range.  There  is  a  marked  relationship  between  human mortality  and  thermal  stress.  During  unusually  hot  episodes,  deaths from different causes can rise significantly with the elderly at greater risk than others. India has experienced manifold increase in the human deaths during various heat waves of years like1971, 1987, 1997, 2001, 2002,  2013  &  2015.  Recent  years  (2001-2015)  have  registered  the highest  number  of  deaths  due  to  heat  wave  events  compared  to previous 3 decades.
- (c) & (d) One of the reasons for the increasing temperature is global warming associated with the increase in greenhouse gasses like Carbon dioxide, Methane  etc.  in the  atmosphere.  As  an  adaptive  measure,  India Meteorological  Department  (IMD)  in  collaboration  with  local  health departments have started heat action plan in many parts of the country to forewarn about the heat waves and also advising action to be taken during  such  occasions.    Heat  action  plan  became  operational  since 2013.

Figure 1.Temperature anomaly for the country during Summer Season (March to May) for the period 1901 to 2018.

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Figure 2.Temperature anomaly trend during Summer Season (March to May) for the period 1901 to 2018.

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The  Heat  Action  Plan  is  a  comprehensive  early  warning  system  and preparedness plan for extreme heat events. The Plan presents immediate  as  well  as  longer-term  actions  to  increase  preparedness, information-sharing,  and  response  coordination  to  reduce  the  health impacts of extreme heat on vulnerable populations.

## The main aims of the Heat Action Plan are:

-  Establish  Early  Warning  System  and  Inter-Agency  Coordination  to alert  residents  on  predicted  high  and  extreme  temperatures.  Who will do what, when, and how is made clear to individuals and units of key departments, especially health department.
-  Capacity building / training programme for health care professionals at  local  level  to  recognize  and  respond  to  heat-related  illnesses, particularly during extreme heat events. These training programmes  focus  on  medical  officers,  paramedical  staff  and community  health  staff  so  that  they  can  effectively  prevent  and manage  heat-related medical issues to reduce mortality and morbidity.
-  Public  Awareness  and  community  outreach:  Disseminating  public awareness messages on how to protect against the extreme heatwave  through  print,  electronic  and  social  media  and  Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials such as pamphlets, posters and advertisements and Television Commercials (TVCs) on Do and Don't and treatment measures for heat related illnesses.
-  Collaboration with non government and civil society: Collaboration with non-governmental organizations and civil society organizations to  improve  bus  stands,  building  temporary  shelters,  wherever necessary,  improved  water  delivery  systems  in  public  areas  and other innovative measures to tackle Heat wave conditions.
-  Identifying  vulnerable  populations  and  the  health  risks  specific  to each group.
-  Developing effective strategies, agency coordination and response planning that addresses heat-health risks.
-  Heat  Health  Information  Surveillance  System  (HHISS)  to  monitor and assess the impact of heat waves on human health.
-  Reducing  Heat  Exposure  and  Promoting  Adaptive  Measures  by launching new efforts including mapping of high-risk areas, access to potable drinking water and cooling spaces during extreme heat days.
-  Evaluating and updating the Heat Action Plan regularly.

NDMA and IMD are working with 23 states prone to high temperatures leading to heat-wave conditions to develop heat action plans. Till May 2019 following States are already under Heat Action Plan:

| 1. Andhra            | 9. Himachal              | 17.     | Punjab                |
|----------------------|--------------------------|---------|-----------------------|
| Pradesh 2. Arunachal | Pradesh 10. Jharkhand    | 18. 19. | Rajasthan Tamil Nadu  |
| Pradesh 3. Bihar     | 11. Jammu and Kashmir    | 20. 21. | Telangana Uttarakhand |
| 4. Chhattisg arh     | 12. Karnataka 13. Kerala | 22.     | Uttar Pradesh         |
| 5. Delhi 6.          | 14. Maharashtra          |         |                       |
|                      | 15. Madhya Pradesh       | 23.     | West                  |
| 7. Goa               |                          |         | Bengal                |
| Gujarat              |                          |         |                       |
| 8. Haryana           | 16. Odisha               |         |                       |

For  supporting  the  cause,  IMD  has  started  Forecast  Demonstration Project (FDP) on heat waves from April 2017 for the hot weather season under  which  a  detailed  daily  report  including  realized  data  of  heat waves,  synoptic  situation  leading  to  the  occurrence  of  heat  waves, diagnosis  on  the  basis  of  Numerical  Model  outputs  and  forecast  and warnings for  five  days  is  prepared.  This  bulletin  is  disseminated  to  all concerned including health departments. From April 2018 onwards, IMD started  issuing  an  additional  bulletin  on  heat  wave  in  the  morning  (8 a.m.) valid for 24 hours for supporting the planning of activities for the day and this bulletin is also disseminated to all concerned.

Both these bulletins are posted to IMD website also, on a special page created for heat waves.

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