The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change provided a detailed response to a parliamentary question regarding measures to address extreme summer heatwaves and rising temperatures. The government has established a comprehensive framework through the National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) which enlists 17 major hazards including Heat Waves and prescribes a detailed responsibility matrix for Central Ministries/Departments, State Governments through State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs), District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs), and local authorities for prevention, preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery.
Heat Wave Management Guidelines
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issued Guidelines on Preparation of Action Plan for Prevention and Management of Heat Wave in 2016, revised in 2019. These guidelines facilitate heat wave-prone States/Union Territories in preparing State, District and City Heat Action Plans (HAPs) for effective management of heat wave conditions. The guidelines mandate vulnerability assessments to identify vulnerable populations including the elderly, children, outdoor workers, and the urban poor, and prescribe appropriate mitigation and preparedness measures. The guidelines also address urban heat island effects by recommending assessment of built environment factors and integration of long-term heat mitigation measures into urban planning, including enhancement of green cover, promotion of cool roofs and cool pavements, preservation of water bodies, improved ventilation corridors, and adoption of climate-responsive building and land-use practices.
State Implementation and Urban Greening Initiatives
All heat wave-prone States, including Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, have prepared and are implementing their respective State Heat Action Plans. Under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) and AMRUT 2.0, parks, green spaces and urban water bodies are being developed to enhance urban climate resilience in these states. The AMRUT Mitra initiative involves Women Self Help Groups in tree plantation and maintenance of parks and green spaces. Additionally, under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SSASCI) Scheme, urban greening initiatives are supported, including development of urban greens in Bihar.
Nagar Van Yojana and Cooling Action Plan
The government is implementing Nagar Van Yojana (NVY) which envisages developing 600 Nagar Vans and 400 Nagar Vatikas in the country during 2020-21 to 2026-27 to enhance tree cover outside forests, improve biodiversity, and provide ecological benefits to urban and peri-urban areas. Central grants from funds under National Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) are provided under the scheme to cover costs of fencing, soil-moisture conservation measures, administrative activities, plantation and maintenance. Under the India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP), the government promotes passive cooling in buildings through adoption of the Energy Conservation and Sustainable Building Code (ECSBC) for commercial, office and residential buildings, emphasizing energy-efficient building envelopes and cross-ventilation strategies to reduce cooling demand.
Community Participation
The government promotes community participation in tree plantation through various initiatives including 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' to encourage citizens to plant trees as a tribute to their mothers and promote mass participation. Tree plantation is also carried out by other Ministries, NGOs, and the private sector.
This information was provided by Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh, in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha.