For the first time, the Tribunal has observed that a single heatwave policy for the entire country is no longer sufficient. Separate environmental policies, separate Heat Action Plans and distinct climate adaptation strategies for urban and rural India have now become essential.

India Is Heating Faster Than It Can Adapt

India’s temperatures are now rising faster than the government’s ability to adapt.

This year, Banda in Uttar Pradesh recorded a temperature of 48°C, while Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh touched 47.4°C. Delhi, Rajasthan, Gujarat and several other states experienced prolonged severe heatwave conditions. During April and May, a large number of Indian cities figured among the hottest cities in the world according to the global heat index. Ganganagar in Rajasthan and Rourkela in Odisha recorded nearly 48.2°C, while several cities in Gujarat reported temperatures ranging between 44°C and 45.4°C.

These are not just numbers.

They are a warning that India is steadily becoming one of the world’s most heat-vulnerable countries.

NGT's Message: It's a Policy Failure

Taking suo motu cognisance, the Bench comprising NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Expert Member Dr. Afroz Ahmad observed that heatwaves have now emerged as a serious threat to public health, agriculture, water availability, labour productivity, wildlife and the overall economy.

The Tribunal has issued notices to the Central Government, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and 13 states, including Gujarat, seeking their action plans. The next hearing is scheduled for August 29, 2026.

However, more significant than the notices is the Tribunal’s observation itself.

India can no longer rely on a "one-size-fits-all" heat policy.

Why Cities Are Becoming Hotter Than Villages

The heat in cities is not caused by the sun alone.

Concrete roads and buildings absorb heat throughout the day and slowly release it at night. Glass-facade buildings reflect solar radiation and increase surrounding temperatures. Waste heat generated by vehicles, industries, millions of outdoor air-conditioning units and commercial buildings keeps cities continuously warm.

This entire phenomenon is known as the Urban Heat Island Effect.

That is why nighttime temperatures in cities often remain several degrees higher than in nearby rural areas.

Villages Face A Different Heat Crisis

The crisis in rural India is entirely different.

There is less concrete, but farmers and labourers working outdoors remain directly exposed to the sun. Cooling infrastructure is inadequate. Healthcare facilities are limited. Drinking water shortages emerge rapidly. Prolonged heat reduces soil moisture, lowers crop productivity and affects livestock.

This is precisely why the NGT believes that a common heat policy for both cities and villages cannot be effective.

Heat Is Also A Health Emergency

A heatwave is not merely uncomfortable weather.

It increases the risk of heatstroke, dehydration, kidney damage, cardiovascular diseases and respiratory illnesses, while posing life-threatening risks to the elderly, children and pregnant women.

Its economic consequences are equally severe.

Working hours of outdoor labourers decline. Productivity falls across construction, agriculture and manufacturing sectors. Electricity demand reaches record levels. Water demand also rises sharply.

In other words, heatwaves are no longer only an environmental challenge—they have become a major economic challenge as well.

The Human-Made Heat

According to India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director General Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, multiple factors are simultaneously driving India's rising temperatures.

·         Human-induced climate change

·         Increasing greenhouse gas emissions

·         Rapid urbanisation

·         Changes in land use

·         Weather systems such as El Niño

·         Declining rainfall

·         Persistent high-pressure weather systems

·         Hot and dry winds arriving from the west

Heatwaves are therefore no longer purely natural events.

Human activities are increasingly contributing to their intensity and frequency.

The Missing Environmental Policy

According to environmentalist Mahesh Pandya, most urban policies in India are still not designed with heat resilience as a central objective.

He believes that tree plantation alone cannot solve the problem.

Governments now need direct policy interventions in the following areas:

·         Prioritising public transport

·         Regulating glass-facade buildings

·         Expanding open green spaces

·         Controlling unplanned and high-density construction

·         Establishing energy standards for outdoor air-conditioning units

·         Waste heat management

·         Strict enforcement against burning agricultural residue and waste

·         Implementing Cool Roof Policies in cities

·         Granting development approvals based on local heat mapping

Most of these issues are still absent from the core environmental policies of Indian states.

What NGT Wants India To Build

The Tribunal has not merely issued a warning.

It has also outlined the framework for India's future heat governance.

Its key recommendations include:

·         Separate climate policies for cities and villages

·         Micro-level heat planning

·         Advanced thermal mapping

·         Remote sensing-based heat monitoring

·         Geospatial climate data

·         Open climate data platforms

·         More accurate short-term weather forecasting

·         Community-based climate monitoring

·         Heat risk assessment

·         Long-term environmental and public health research

Gujarat Prepares NGT Response

A senior official of the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA) told The Secretariat that the state is preparing its response to the notice issued over heatwaves and rising temperatures. The reply will outline the measures already taken by the Gujarat government and include an action plan detailing its preparedness and proposed policy changes to address the growing heat challenge.

The Bigger Question

India aspires to become a developed nation by 2047.

But if cities become unliveable and villages become increasingly unsuitable for agriculture, what will development truly mean?

The growing number of air conditioners may be viewed as a sign of economic progress. But if outdoor temperatures continue to rise relentlessly, how sustainable is that development?

Heatwaves are no longer merely natural disasters.

They have become a test of India’s development model.

And perhaps that is the most important message behind the NGT’s notice

India now needs more than Heat Action Plans.

It is time to rewrite the country’s environmental policy for a hotter future.