New Delhi— Taking serious note of worsening heatwave conditions across the country, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has initiated suo motu proceedings over what it described as an “extreme heatwave crisis” in India and sought detailed climate adaptation strategies from the Centre and multiple state governments.
The Principal Bench of the NGT in New Delhi took cognisance of the issue based on a media report highlighting the intensifying heatwave situation across several regions.
A Bench comprising NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Expert Member Dr Afroz Ahmad observed that rising temperatures were emerging as one of the most severe yet under-recognised environmental disasters facing the country.
The Tribunal said extreme heatwaves were not only threatening public health but also severely impacting agriculture, water resources, labour productivity, wildlife and the broader economy.
Referring to recent India Meteorological Department (IMD) data, the NGT noted that temperatures had touched 48 degrees Celsius in Banda, Uttar Pradesh, while Delhi and several parts of north and central India continued to experience intense heatwave conditions.
The Tribunal highlighted that heatwaves affect urban and rural populations differently. According to the Bench, cities face aggravated heat due to concrete infrastructure, shrinking green spaces, vehicular emissions, industrial activity and rising energy consumption, which collectively contribute to the urban heat island effect.
In rural areas, the NGT observed, people remain highly vulnerable because of prolonged outdoor exposure, lack of cooling facilities and limited institutional support systems.
The Tribunal further stressed that climate change and human-induced environmental degradation were worsening the crisis and raising concerns under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
Expressing concern over inadequate long-term preparedness, the NGT called for urgent and region-specific climate adaptation measures. Among the key measures suggested were heat action plans tailored to different regions, high-resolution thermal mapping, remote sensing studies, improved weather forecasting systems, open-access climate and geospatial data sharing, school and community-level weather monitoring programmes, and expanded research into heat-related environmental and public health risks.
The Tribunal has made several central ministries, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), and multiple state governments respondents in the matter. These include Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.
All respondents have been directed to submit detailed replies and action plans through affidavits before the Tribunal.
The matter is scheduled for further hearing on August 19.
India has witnessed increasingly prolonged and severe heatwaves in recent years, with climate experts warning that rising global temperatures are making extreme weather events more frequent and dangerous. Scientists and public health experts say heatwaves pose serious risks particularly for outdoor workers, children, elderly citizens and economically weaker sections of society.
