Centre gets SC notice over PIL on heatwave

The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Centre on a PIL seeking directions to strictly implement national guidelines to prepare an action plan on the management of heatwave conditions that allegedly claimed over 700 lives last year.

A Bench of Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justice AG Masih asked the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, National Disaster Management Authority and others, to respond to the petition filed by environment activist Vikrant Tongad in two weeks.

Tongad has sought direction to provide facilities for forecast, issuance of heat alert, early warning systems, and round-the-clock redressal helplines.

The petitioner pointed out that the Centre was statutorily obliged under Section 35 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, to take appropriate measures for disaster management. Further, Section 3 of the Environment Act, 1986, obliges the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to act decisively to protect and improve environmental quality, he submitted.

Pointing out that the escalating heatwave crisis was linked to climate change, the plea sought compensation to the victims of heat-related illness and minimum wages or other social and financial security to the vulnerable classes during the extreme heat periods.

On behalf of the petitioner, advocate Akash Vashishtha alleged that more than 700 deaths were reported due to heatwaves and heat stress last year.