NGT nudges govt to act on heat resilience

New Delhi: National Green Tribunal 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 and others to develop comprehensive heat resilience and adaptation frameworks.The tribunal took suo motu cognisance of a TOI report titled “48° Heat, 360° Plan” dated May 22, highlighting the alarming rise in extreme heat conditions across India.“Given the seriousness of the issue, coordinated action is required from MoEF&CC, DST, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Ministry of Earth Sciences, CPCB, and all state govts concerned to develop comprehensive heat resilience and adaptation frameworks,” said the bench.NGT observed that the TOI report highlighted 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.As per IMD observations, 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.