Action Plans for Mitigating Harsh Summers

What is the issue?

• The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of an exceptionally hot summer this year. Click here to know more.
• This calls for advance planning to mitigate its adverse consequences.

What are the predictions of IMD?

• Maximum temperature in most parts of the country is projected to remain over 1 degree Celsius above normal.
• Frequent and relatively more intense heat waves are expected between March and May.
• There are signs of a moderate La Nina condition (deemed favourable for the monsoon.
• However, the IMD has refrained from drawing any conclusion about its impact on the coming monsoon.
• This is perhaps because it is likely to start weakening from May-end, prior to the onset of the monsoon.
• Even if the moderate La Nina leads to good rainfall, the relief will accrue only in the rainy season.
• It is less likely to help in the pre-monsoon dry season, when it is needed the most.

What are the implications for India?

• If IMD’s forecast holds true, it will be the third consecutive year of unbearably hot summers.
• Notably, India witnessed back-to-back droughts in 2014 and 2015.
• In fact, the temperatures have already begun to shoot up, hovering around 2.5 degrees Celsius above normal in several regions.
• The total water stock of the 91 main dams monitored by the Central Water Commission is now short of last year’s corresponding level and below average.
• Moreover, the total winter rainfall has been deficient by as much as 64% in the country as a whole.
•  The deficiency is 67% in the key north-western agricultural belt.

What are the concerns with harsher summers?

• Excessive heat can have wide-ranging consequences, costing the economy dearly.
• It can lower the crop yields.
• Especially, that of wheat which is highly sensitive to a premature spike in temperature in March.
• Harsh summers would deplete water resources, which are already stressed due to poor winter rainfall.
• It would affect power availability by pushing up demand and curtailing hydel power production.
• Besides, it could depress milk yield of cattle.
• It could also threaten human health, causing heat-induced illnesses and death.
• Labour productivity, too, tends to dwindle during acute summers.

What action plans need to be taken?

• Area-specific action plans are, therefore, imperative to combat heat-related contingencies.
• Ahmedabad had prepared a “heat action plan” in 2010 when a 47-degree Celsius heat wave had taken 700 lives.
• Implementation of this plan helped restrict casualties to 20, under similar conditions in 2015.
• Civic authorities in other states could take a cue from such measures.
• Putting up drinking water kiosks in public places, setting up day shelters, changing school timings, etc are some of them.
• Water release from reservoirs need to be rescheduled to facilitate its judicious and economical use.
• The work timings of labour, too, can be readjusted to provide longer breaks during blazing afternoons.
• The science of genetic engineering can help prepare Indian agriculture to face unkind summers, without any significant erosion in productivity.

Source: Business Standard