Lok Sabha Question No. 391 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-02
Subject: National Strategy to Mitigate Extreme Heat in High-Footfall Public Areas
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Konda Vishweshwar Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 391

TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.02.2026

## National Strategy to Mitigate Extreme Heat in High-Footfall Public Areas

## 391.      SHRI KONDA VISHWESHWAR REDDY:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has formulated a comprehensive national strategy to mitigate extreme  heat  in  high-footfall  public  spaces  such  as  markets,  railway  stations,  bus terminals  and  pedestrian  zones  during  the  forthcoming  summer,  as  part  of  climate adaptation measures, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  international  best  practices  in  temperature  control  and  heat-resilient  public infrastructure such as shaded walkways, cool and reflective roofing, misting systems, urban  greening  and  climate-responsive  design  have  been  examined  for  adoption  in domestic conditions, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of advisories, guidelines and financial assistance issued under the National Action Plan on Climate Change, Heat  Action Plans and allied schemes for implementation by States and urban local bodies; and
- (d) whether any pilot projects have been undertaken or proposed in major cities and, if so, the timeline and roadmap for scaling up such interventions nationwide?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) to (d)   The Government of India has undertaken a range of initiatives, in coordination with State Governments/ UT Administrations, to mitigate the impacts of extreme heat, including in urban  spaces.  The  National  Disaster  Management  Authority  (NDMA)  issued  national guidelines on heatwave management in 2016, which were revised in 2019. The guidelines, inter-alia,  facilitates  the  heat  wave  prone  States/  UTs  to  prepare  their  Heat  Action  Plans including for cities/towns to deal with the extreme heat wave situation. The guidelines focus on short-term, medium term and long-term measures for heat wave risk reduction.

India's climate action is guided by the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) and State Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCCs), which provide an overarching framework for addressing climate risks including heat stress. Over 250 cities and districts across 23 heatprone states have implemented Heat Action Plans, supported by the NDMA through advisories, technical guidance, and institutional mechanisms. India follows a whole-of-government and whole-of-society  approach,  engaging  multiple  sectors  such  as  health,  agriculture,  urban development, labour, power, water, education, and infrastructure to strengthen preparedness and response to extreme heat.

Heat resilience is further promoted through national policies and schemes including the India Cooling Action Plan, Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)/AMRUT 2.0, and energy efficiency  codes  of the  Bureau  of  Energy  Efficiency. These  initiatives  encourage  measures  such  as  cool  and  reflective  roofing,  urban  greening, climate-responsive  building  design,  and  reduction  of  urban  heat  island  effects.  Financial support  for  heat-mitigation  infrastructure  is  provided  through  urban  programs,  such  as AMRUT and AMRUT 2.0, which fund development of urban parks and rejuvenation of water bodies.  Additionally,  the  Ministry  of  Housing  and  Urban  Affairs'  Climate  Smart  Cities Assessment Framework (CSCAF) assesses and incentivizes city-level climate preparedness, including green cover, water management, energy efficiency, and climate adaptation.

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