Lok Sabha Question No. 434 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-11-27
Subject: Alarming rate of Heat Waves in the Country
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: Dr. Amol Ramsing Kolhe, Shri Mohite Patil Dhairyasheel Rajsinh, Smt. Supriya Sule, Shri Sanjay Dina Patil, Prof. Varsha Eknath Gaikwad, Shri Amar Sharadrao Kale, Shri Bajrang Manohar Sonwane, Shri Bhaskar Murlidhar Bhagare, Shri Nilesh Dnyandev Lanke

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 434

TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 27 TH  NOVEMBER, 2024

## ALARMING RATE OF HEAT WAVES IN THE COUNTRY

## 434.  SHRI AMAR SHARADRAO KALE:

SHRI NILESH DNYANDEV LANKE:

SHRI MOHITE PATIL DHAIRYASHEEL RAJSINH:

SHRI BHASKAR MURLIDHAR BHAGARE:

DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE:

SHRI BAJRANG MANOHAR SONWANE:

SMT. SUPRIYA SULE:

PROF. VARSHA EKNATH GAIKWAD:

SHRI SANJAY DINA PATIL:

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the alarming rate of heat waves in the recent years and if so, the details of the steps taken to reduce the causes of heat waves in the upcoming years, if not, the reasons therefor;
- (b) whether heat waves have impacted economy in the last climate year and if so, the steps taken/being taken by the Government to prevent life and economic loss due to heat waves in the upcoming years and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether Maharashtra State has submitted Heat Action Plan to the Union Government, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the manner  in which Government  collaborate with local authorities and relevant stakeholders to implement heat wave preparedness and response plans;
- (e) the details of financial resources Government has allocated for mitigating the impacts of heat waves; and
- (f) whether the Government coordinates with meteorological departments and climate experts to  enhance  early  warning  systems  for  heat  waves  and  improve  preparedness  across different regions of the country?

## 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 heatwaves in various parts of the  globe,  including  India.  Intergovernmental  Panel  on  Climate  Change  (IPCC)-Sixth Assessment Report also reflects the same (https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/syr/downloads/report/IPCC\_AR6\_ SYR\_SPM.pdf). In general, there is an increasing trend in the frequency of heatwaves in the heat core zone covering  northern  plains  and  central  India,  as  per  the  analysis  done  by  the  India Meteorological Department (IMD). Recently, IMD published a monograph on heatwaves that provides comprehensive information on heatwaves over India (https://mausam.imd.gov.in/responsive/met2.php).

Various initiatives  have  been  undertaken  by  the  Government  of  India  with  the  help  of States to reduce the causes of heatwaves in the coming years. National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) and State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) is one of the  major  initiatives  in  this  direction.  Additionally,  India  has  taken  a  proactive  role  in fostering  international  collaborations  through  initiatives  such  as  the  International  Solar Alliance  and  the  Coalition  for  Disaster-Resilient  Infrastructure.  India  is  committed  to pursuing  low-carbon  strategies  for  development  and  is  actively  pursuing  them,  as  per national circumstances.

IMD, in coordination with various research centers across the country, has been taking multiple steps to improve monitoring and early warning systems, which helped minimize loss  of  life  and  property  during  extreme  weather  events,  including  heat  waves.Heat Action  Plans  (HAPs)  in  23  States  that  are  prone  to  heatwave  conditions  were  jointly implemented by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in collaboration with the State Governments.

- (b) Heatwaves  adversely  affected crop output in the previous year,especially certain vegetables in various regions, which put pressure on food inflation. The Government took timely steps to bring relief to the commonman. These, interalia, include strengthening of buffer stock of essential food items and periodic open market releases, subsidised retail sale  of  items  like  rice,  wheat  flour,  and  pulses  in  specified  outlets,  easing  imports  of essential  food  items  through  rationalisation  of  duties,  prevention  of  hoarding  through imposition/revision  and  monitoring  of  stock  limits.  The  Pradhan  Mantri  Garib  Kalyan Anna Yojana largely protects the vulnerable sections from price pressures in food grains.
- (c) Maharashtra State is one of the 23 States where Heat Action Plans (HAPs) have already been implemented.
- (d) The  heatwave  forecast  and  warning  information  are  provided  to  all  the  stakeholders, including ministries of the Union Government, State Governments, and local Government  bodies.IMD issues  various  outlooks/forecasts/warnings  for  the  Public  and disaster  management  authorities  to  prepare  for  extreme  weather  events,  including heatwaves. While issuing the alert, a suitable color code is used to highlight the impact of the severe weather expected and signal disaster management about the course of action to be  taken  regarding  an  impending  disaster  weather  event.  IMD  issues  the  necessary warnings and advisories well in advance for preparedness. A series of National and Statelevel heatwave preparedness meetings are conducted much before the start of the summer season, with regular review meetings from time to time during the season.
- (e) The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) uniformly implements the central sector schemes throughout  the  country,  and  IMD  provides  weather  and  climate-related  forecasts  and warnings, including warnings about heatwaves.
- (f) Yes.  IMD  collaborates  with  research  centers  to  improve  early  warning  services  in  a coordinated  manner.  It also regularly engages  different stakeholders and  experts, including  disaster  management  authorities  at  National,  State,  and  local  Government departments, to improve its product outreach.

Regular  consultation  and  coordination  with  other  Government  agencies  and  climate experts  are  maintained  through  heatwave  preparedness  meetings  and  workshops.  The seasonal  and  monthly  outlooks  provide  an  opportunity  to  assess  the  preparedness  of different stakeholders, and an extended range followed by short to medium-range forecast anticipates on-ground action.

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