New Delhi, May 22 (UNI) The Supreme Court has issued notice to the Union Government in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking a robust and time-bound implementation of the National Guidelines for Heat Wave Management, 2019, issued by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
The petition highlights the rising intensity and frequency of heat waves across India, now posing a serious climate and public health emergency.
A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India B R Gavai and Justice A.G. Masih sought responses within two weeks from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, and the NDMA.
Appearing for the petitioner, Advocate Akash Vashishtha urged the court to direct sweeping reforms and relief measures, including forecasting systems, helplines, wage protection, and green infrastructure, in response to escalating heat stress across India.
The PIL, filed by environmentalist Vikrant Tongad, states, “Heat wave deaths far exceed fatalities caused by any other natural hazard. In 2024 alone, over 700 deaths have already been reported due to extreme heat.”
The petitioner sought strict enforcement of the 2019 NDMA Heat Wave Guidelines after declaring heat waves a disaster.
These include creation of early warning systems, 24x7 heat helplines, and public heat alerts. compensation to heat wave victims and minimum wages/social protection for vulnerable groups like farmers and daily-wage laborers during extreme temperatures. Promotion of blue-green infrastructure, including converting paved areas to vegetated spaces, and maintaining 33% green cover as a planning norm also figure in the guidelines.
The petition notes that climate change has led to drought-like conditions even in winter months and poses an imminent threat to food security, as crop yields are likely to fall drastically due to temperature anomalies.
“Surprisingly, unusually high temperatures are being recorded in peak winter months, including January and February,” the plea states.
In a related case on illegal tree cutting in Delhi’s Ridge area, a bench led by Justice Abhay S. Oka and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan had remarked, “Now we are feeling the heat wave in the true sense because the green cover has been lost over the years.”
The court had also directed the Delhi Government and the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to urgently enhance the green cover in the capital. The matter is likely to come up for further hearing after the expiry of the two-week deadline for the Centre's response. UNI SNG SSP