The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has sought a response from the Centre, several States and others regarding scorching maximum temperatures and intense extreme heat across the country.

The statutory body was hearing a matter in which it had taken suo motu cognisance of a newspaper report about rising temperatures that are affecting people’s health, learning, and productivity, besides impacting the economy.

In an order dated May 25, a Bench of NGT chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member Afroz Ahmad said according to the report, heat rarely leaves any dramatic visuals yet affects a vast part of the country, and is among the most unrecognised disasters.

“The latest IMD bulletin shows scorching maximum temperatures across northwest, west, central and adjoining eastern and north-peninsular India, with the highest temperature recorded at 48°C in Banda, Uttar Pradesh. Delhi remains under heatwave conditions through May,” the Bench said, citing the report.

It added that after distinguishing between urban and rural heatwave conditions, a policy with region-specific strategies and adaptation planning is required.

The tribunal impleaded as respondents the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the department of science and technology in the national capital, the Ministry of Earth Sciences, the Ministry of Jal Shakti, the Central Pollution Control Board, the Delhi government and the States of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.

“Issue notice to the respondents for filing their response/reply by way of affidavit before the tribunal at least one week before the next date of hearing (on August 18),” the NGT said.

NGT on adaptation strategies

It added that a response from the States and their authorities is required to have a short-term and long-term adaptation strategy to address the increasing temperature due to climatic conditions and anthropogenic activities during the summer months.

The Bench noted that the news report underlined an urgent need for a dedicated research program on heat risk, a stronger support system, ground observations, high-resolution thermal mapping, mobile temperature surveys, open-access data, environmental impacts and climate adaptations.

“The issue is very serious as it relates to climate change and also anthropogenic activities. Hence, there needs to be a proper adaptation strategy formulated, and, as highlighted in the news item, area-specific microplanning is required as the temperatures are likely to increase year after year affecting water availability and other basic needs and accordingly, the adaptation measures put in place to address these,” the Bench said.