Renewed demand for including Heatwaves as a Notified Disaster under the Disaster Management (DM) Act, 2005 is being made considering the ongoing extreme spell of heat waves across the country.
Heat Wave
- About: A Heat Wave is a period of abnormally high temperatures, more than the normal maximum temperature that occurs during the summer months from March to July usually in the North- Western belt of India.
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Criteria by Indian Meteorological Department (IMD):
- Maximum Temperature: A station should record at least 40°C for Plains and at least 30°C for Hilly regions
- When Normal Maximum Temperature is less than or equal to 40°C:
- Heat Wave: Departure from normal temperature is 5°C to 6°C
- Severe Heat Wave: Departure from normal temperature of the station is 7°C or more.
- When normal maximum temperature of a station is more than 40°C- 45°C:
- Heat Wave: Departure from normal is 4°C to 5°C
- Severe Heat Wave: Departure from normal is 6°C or more
- When actual maximum temperature remains 45°C or more irrespective of normal maximum temperature, heat waves should be declared.
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Heat Waves in India
- Heat Waves of 2024: The Indian Meteorological Department has reported 10-22 above-normal heat wave days in different parts of the country, i.e., large parts of northern, eastern, and central India between April and June 2024, with more heat spells expected.
- Statistics: An average of two deaths daily due to heat waves in April, May and June 2023. A total of 252 deaths due to heat-related issues were reported by June 2023
- Importance: The States will be able to use their disaster response funds or SDRF to provide compensation and relief and other mitigation and adaptation activities for heat waves.
- Currently, states need to use their own funds for these activities.
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About Notified Disasters
- The Disaster Management Act 2005 defines a disaster as a,
- A catastrophe, mishap, calamity or grave occurrence arising from “natural or man-made causes” that result in substantial loss of life, destruction of property, or damage to the environment and should be “beyond the coping capacity” of the community.
- Categories: Cyclones, Drought, Earthquake, Fire, Flood, Tsunami, Hailstorm, Landslide, Avalanche, Cloudburst, Pest Attack, And Frost And Cold Waves are the 12 disasters notified under the DM Act presently.
- Effect: The provision of the DM Act can be invoked to allow states to draw money from The National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) at the national level and the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) at the state level.
- States must first utilise the funds available in the SDRF, and only if the magnitude of the disaster is beyond their resources can states seek money from the NDRF.
- In the FY 2023-24, only two states drew money from the NDRF, i.e. Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh.
- Funding of the Disaster Funds: The NDRF is entirely supported by the Central Government. In the SDRF, States contribute 25% of the money (10% in case of special category states), and the rest is contributed by the Centre.
- The money in these funds can only be used for responding to and managing notified disasters.
- Reason for Inclusion:
- Widespread nature: The severity and frequency of heat waves are increasing every passing year, increasing people’s vulnerability and exposing them to the risk of heat stroke.
- Currently, 23 states are vulnerable to heatwaves.
- Better Data: It can improve heatwave management by reporting heat-related illnesses and deaths better.
- Tap into SDRF Funds: State governments are unable to use more than 10% of the funds for Heat Wave Management, leading to inadequate response.
- Heat Action Plans: Several vulnerable cities have now prepared heat action plans (HAPs) involving activities like creating shaded spaces, making cool water available in public places, distributing simple oral solutions, and reorganising school, college, and office working hours, which require adequate financial resources.
- Challenges for the inclusion of heatwaves as notified disasters:
- Heatwaves are a common occurrence during summer and not really an unusual weather event.
- Finance Commission Reluctance: The 15th Finance Commission endorsed an enabling provision allowing states to use up to 10% of the SDRF money for “local disasters” such as lightning or heatwaves, which states could notify themselves.
- At least four states, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, and Kerala, have used this enabling provision, and heat waves have been added as local disasters.
- Financial implication: Monetary compensation of Rs 4 lakh needs to be provided for every death caused by a disaster on the notified list. Grievous injuries also need to be compensated.
- The year 2024 has already reported more than 500 heat-related deaths.
- Identification of Heat related Deaths: In many cases, heat plays a complementary role whereby the pre-existing conditions get aggravated due to the extreme heat and cause deaths making it different from other disasters where the identification of the victims is easier and more straight-forward.
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June 12, 2024
