Hottest January, with more to come: How India is dealing with growing heatwaves (original) (raw)

Elevated temperatures accelerate evaporation and increase water demand, straining already limited water resources. (Express archive)

Feb 12, 2025 16:57 IST First published on: Feb 12, 2025 at 16:57 IST

A common understanding among most people in India is that disasters and accidents are meant for their neighbours and the many unknown people “out there”. No one thinks that calamity may strike them too, for which they need to remain prepared. Climate change has enhanced the frequency of disasters and, among them, a silent killer is the heatwave, particularly for our country. India is experiencing more frequent, prolonged and severe heatwaves. These extreme temperatures pose significant risk to public health, infrastructure, and livelihoods, especially in vulnerable regions. Yet, it’s a domain about which public knowledge remains abysmal.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), which manages public policy on disasters, has classified heatwaves as a serious hazard and taken it upon itself to enhance public awareness in this sphere. A two-day national heatwave workshop to bring all stakeholders together is being organised in the Capital with the aim to create better awareness and ideation on ways to beat the heat. The Paris Summit’s goal of keeping global temperature rise below 2 degrees Centigrade above pre-industrial levels is now almost impossible to achieve, according to an analysis by Professor James Hansen. January 2025 was the 18th month in the last 19 when the global average surface air temperature breached the 1.5 degree Celsius threshold.

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The impact of these extreme weather events is multifaceted, affecting public health, agriculture, energy supply, and overall economic stability. Ninety per cent of Indians are vulnerable to heat-related health issues. The strain on healthcare systems is overburdening facilities, particularly in rural areas. The economy faces productivity losses as the majority of the workforce works outdoors. The World Bank estimates that India could account for 34 million job losses due to heat-stress-related productivity declines by 2030.

Elevated temperatures accelerate evaporation and increase water demand, straining already limited water resources. Fifty-four per cent of India’s land is experiencing high-to-extreme-high water stress, according to the World Resources Institute (WRI). The use of groundwater has led to a decline in water levels. Demand for water is increasing, while supply is not keeping pace. India has 18 per cent of the world population and only 4 per cent of its fresh water. High temperatures can also lead to crop failures, reduced yields, and increased irrigation demands — affecting food security and water management.

Heatwaves can significantly affect the power industry in India in several ways including increased demand: Cooling needs – air conditioners and other cooling systems — during heatwaves lead to a surge in demand. This has an impact on the availability of power for industries and poses a challenge for the manufacturing sector. As per available data, 70 per cent of power in India is produced by thermal power plants, which rely on water for cooling. High temperatures can reduce the efficiency of these plants and increase the risk of overheating.

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Recognising all of the above, the NDMA, under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister, has played an active role in helping states, districts and cities develop Heat Action Plans (HAPs) — a structured approach to mitigating heatwave impacts. It has been organising national workshops on the preparation and implementation of HAPs every year. It has taken several initiatives to mitigate the effect of heatwave which is now considered a priority hazard. It has issued guidelines and advisories for state governments, district administrations and local authorities to assist in their preparedness. These guidelines provided the foundation for states, districts, and cities to develop their own HAPs, enabling a decentralised approach to heatwave management.

Public awareness programmes have been launched to educate people on heatwave risks, particularly health-related issues, prevention and response. A National Framework for Heatwave Mitigation and Management (2024), which takes these efforts further, has been developed by NDMA. It shifts the focus from short-term heatwave response to long-term preparedness and mitigation. Several innovations have been incorporated in this and include localised vulnerability assessments to tailor the programme to specific needs. There is much emphasis on community participation and multi-sectoral engagement. In addition, institutional capacity-building is aimed at better sustainability of the projects. All this is not possible without financing mechanisms, which have been catered for.

This framework extends the focus from preparedness to mitigation, advocating for locally-owned and context-specific HAPs. The approach has included multiple stakeholders across sectors — including government agencies, meteorologists, public health experts, and city planners. It has actively encouraged continuous consultations with these stakeholders. Key institutional efforts have involved encouraging states to notify heat as a disaster for better resource allocation. Officers with specific responsibility towards heatwaves have been designated with clear-cut responsibilities. States are being mandated to conduct periodic updates of HAPs based on data and impact assessments to provide more dynamism to the programme. With multiple departments being involved, including urban planning, healthcare, and labour, it is important to strengthen coordinating mechanisms.

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While the number of HAPs across India has increased, implementation remains a challenge. The focus is now on scaling up successful interventions and ensuring local ownership. For example, Adoption of Cool Roofs and Green Infrastructure is being encouraged. Focusing on preparedness, with early warning systems emerging as the norm, the strengthening of IMD-NDMA coordination is being done to provide localised heat alerts. Dissemination is being done more efficiently through the newly-acquired Common Alerting Protocol (CAP). Revising working hours and providing cooling vests for outdoor workers are among the practical measures for protection. The concept of cool rooms with adequate drinking water in high-risk urban centres provides temporary solace to those who are affected by travel and frequent movement.

The health system is a critical component with hospitals and primary healthcare centres with basic heat management protocols. With water becoming more scarce, promoting rooftop rainwater harvesting and water kiosks in vulnerable communities is also being done.

With more than 250 HAPs in place, the challenge now is all about awareness and transforming cities and communities into heat-resilient ecosystems that can withstand rising temperatures in the years ahead.

The writer is member, NDMA