Lok Sabha Question No. 3725 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-18
Subject: Phenomenon of El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: Shri Dileshwar Kamait

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3725 TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 18 TH  DECEMBER, 2024

## PHENOMENON OF EL NINO-SOUTHERN OSCILLATION (ENSO)

## †3725. SHRI DILESHWAR KAMAIT:

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government accepts the findings of the study conducted by various IITs in the country which predicts that the frequency of extreme weather events like floods and heatwaves  in  the  country  increases  manifold  due  to  the  climate  change,  particularly warming and variability in EI Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO);
- (b) if  so,  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  strengthen  the  resilience  of  existing infrastructure and to mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events; and
- (c) the  break-up  of  the  proportion  of  country's  population  which  is  exposed  to  frequent extremes above pre-industrial levels at the current level of global average temperature, State/UT-wise?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

- (a) Yes. Due to climate change, annual temperature is increasing globally, and the impact of the same is reflected in the rising frequency and intensity of extreme weather events in various parts of the globe, including India.
- (b) The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issues various outlooks/forecasts/warnings for the public as well as disaster management authorities to prepare for extreme weather events  and  to  adapt  and  mitigate  various  extreme  weather-related  risks.  IMD  started issuing Impact Based Forecasts (IBF), which gives details of what the weather will do rather than what the weather will be. It contains the details of impacts expected from the severe weather elements and guidelines to the general public about do's and don'ts while getting exposed to severe weather.

IMD has  recently  brought  out  a  web-based  online  "Climate  Hazard  &  Vulnerability Atlas of India" prepared for the thirteen most hazardous meteorological events, which cause extensive damages and economic, human, and animal losses. The climate hazard and vulnerability atlas will help state government authorities and disaster management agencies plan and take appropriate action to tackle various extreme weather events. This product is useful in building Climate Change resilient infrastructure also.

IMD  has  launched  seven  of  its  services  (Current  Weather,  Nowcast,  City  Forecast, Rainfall  Information,  Tourism  Forecast,  Warnings,  and  Cyclone)  with  the  'UMANG' Mobile  App  for  use  by  the  public.  Moreover,  IMD  developed  a  mobile  App, 'MAUSAM' for weather forecasting, 'Meghdoot' for Agromet advisory dissemination, and 'Damini' for lightning alerts. The common Alert Protocol (CAP) developed by the National  Disaster  Management  Authority  (NDMA)  is  also  being  implemented  to disseminate warnings by the IMD.

Guidelines  for  preparedness  are  finalised  in  collaboration  with  the  NDMA  and respective  State  Governments  and  are  already  implemented  successfully  for  extreme weather events such as cyclones, heatwaves, thunderstorms, and heavy rainfall.

- (c) Percentage  of  districts  and  populations  affected  by  disastrous  weather  events  in different categories of vulnerability scales based on the Normalized vulnerability index for  eleven of thirteen climate  hazards  are prepared. The  vulnerability atlas for heatwaves indicates that 13% of the districts and 15% of the population are moderate to very  highly  vulnerable,  and  4%  of  the  districts  and  7%  of  the  population  are  highly vulnerable. The States of Rajasthan (15 districts) and Andhra Pradesh (13 districts) are the most vulnerable to heatwaves.

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