Govt Heat‑Wave Management & Urban Greening: NDMA Guidelines, HAPs, AMRUT, NVY, ICAP
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change outlined its multi‑layered response to heat‑waves, including updated NDMA guidelines, State Heat Action Plans, urban greening under AMRUT and Nagar Van Yojana, and the India Cooling Action Plan, aiming to protect vulnerable groups and build climate‑resilient cities.
Government’s Integrated Approach to Heat‑Wave Management and Urban Greening The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) detailed how the Centre is tackling rising summer temperatures and heat‑wave hazards. The response combines disaster‑management guidelines, state‑level Heat Action Plans, and large‑scale urban‑greening programmes such as AMRUT and NVY . These measures target vulnerable groups, improve city livability, and reduce the Urban Heat Island effect. Key Developments 2023‑2026: NDMA revised its 2016 Guidelines on Heat‑Wave Action Plans (HAPs) to incorporate vulnerability assessment, built‑environment analysis, and long‑term mitigation. All heat‑wave‑prone states, including Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, have prepared and are implementing State HAPs for districts and cities. Under SSASCI , urban greening projects are funded in Bihar. The ICAP encourages adoption of the Energy Conservation and Sustainable Building Code for new commercial and residential buildings. Community‑driven initiatives such as ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ and Women Self‑Help Group tree‑planting under the AMRUT‑Mitra programme expand citizen participation. Important Facts The NDMA guidelines require a vulnerability assessment to identify the elderly, children, outdoor workers, and urban poor. They also mandate an assessment of the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Urban Heat Island — a phenomenon where built‑up areas ex
Quick Reference
Key Insight
New heat‑wave rules and city‑greening schemes boost climate resilience across India.
Key Facts
- NDMA ने 2023‑2026 के दौरान 2016 के Heat‑Wave Action Plan दिशानिर्देशों को पुनः संशोधित किया, जिसमें संवेदनशीलता मूल्यांकन और Urban Heat Island (UHI) शमन शामिल किया गया।
- सभी हीट‑प्रवण राज्य, जिनमें बिहार और मध्य प्रदेश शामिल हैं, ने जिलों और शहरों के लिए राज्य Heat Action Plans तैयार किए हैं।
- AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation) शहरी क्षेत्रों में जल, सीवरेज और हरित‑स्थान निर्माण के लिए फंड प्रदान करता है।
- NVY (Nagar Van Yojana) 2026‑27 तक 600 शहरी वन और 400 शहरी उद्यान बनाने का लक्ष्य रखता है, जो CAMPA के माध्यम से वित्त पोषित है।
- SSASCI (Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment) बिहार में शहरी हरियाली परियोजनाओं के लिए पूंजी अनुदान प्रदान करता है।
- ICAP (India Cooling Action Plan) नई इमारतों के लिए कूल रूफ, कूल पेवमेंट और ऊर्जा‑कुशल भवन कोड को प्रोत्साहित करता है।
- ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ जैसी सामुदायिक पहलें, AMRUT‑Mitra के तहत, महिलाओं की स्वयं सहायता समूहों को वृक्षारोपण में शामिल करती हैं।
Background
India is seeing hotter summers and more frequent heat‑waves, threatening health and livelihoods. The government links disaster‑management guidelines with large‑scale greening programmes to lower city temperatures, protect vulnerable groups and meet climate‑change goals. This ties into GS‑3 (environment, disaster management) and GS‑2 (centre‑state responsibilities).
UPSC Syllabus
- GS3 — Disaster and disaster management
- Essay — Environment and Sustainability
- Essay — Economy, Development and Inequality
- GS2 — Functions and responsibilities of Union and States
- GS4 — Concepts and their utilities and application in administration and governance
- Prelims_GS — Constitution and Political System
- GS3 — Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation
- Essay — Youth, Health and Welfare
- GS3 — Infrastructure - Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways
- GS2 — Parliament and State Legislatures - structure, functioning, powers and privileges
Mains Angle
In a GS‑3 answer, discuss how integrated heat‑wave guidelines and urban‑greening schemes create a multi‑tier response to climate risk. A GS‑2 essay can focus on the centre‑state coordination needed for effective implementation.