The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a notice to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), and other relevant authorities to develop comprehensive heat resilience and adaptation frameworks.
Suo Motu Cognizance of TOI Report
The tribunal took suo motu cognizance of a Times of India report titled “48° Heat, 360° Plan” dated May 22, which highlighted the alarming rise in extreme heat conditions across India. The bench noted the seriousness of the issue and stressed the need for coordinated action from multiple ministries and state governments.
Key Directions from NGT
The NGT observed that the TOI report underscored the urgent need for high-resolution heat monitoring systems using satellite and ground data, improved weather forecasting and early warning systems, open-access climate and geospatial data platforms, community participation in local climate monitoring, and micro-level heat mapping for region-specific planning.
According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), extreme temperatures have been recorded across northwest, central, eastern, and north-peninsular India, with a peak of 48 degrees Celsius reported in Banda, Uttar Pradesh.
The tribunal has directed the concerned authorities to formulate a comprehensive plan and submit a response within a stipulated time frame. The notice aims to ensure that all stakeholders work together to mitigate the impacts of extreme heat and protect vulnerable populations.
