Karnal and Yamunanagar, Haryana: Dayaram, a farmer in his late fifties, stood amidst his parched rice fields in Karnal on a 44-deg C summer day in May, the sun’s relentless glare casting deep shadows across his unshaven face, as he explained how recent heat waves had ravaged his livelihood.
"High temperatures have led to severe water shortages," he said, his voice tinged with desperation. "Our water supply has dwindled by nearly 40%, disrupting the growth cycle of our rice crops and reducing our production by 25% (over seven years).”
Dayaram, who uses one name, said his income had plummeted 30% over the same period, threatening his family’s survival. "We are facing a challenging period," he said, "struggling to adjust our farming practices to safeguard what little harvest we can manage."
Dayaram’s story is an illustration of a broader crisis affecting millions of farmers across India’s northern plains. The once-thriving fields lay desolate, a testament to the unforgiving forces of climate change.
North Indian states have had to contend with depleted groundwater reserves, once perennial rivers alternatively dying up and flooding, and predictions that the problem will only get worse.
Karnal, often referred to as the rice bowl of India, is the constituency of Nayab Singh Saini, the chief minister of Haryana. Up to 80% of its industries are directly or indirectly linked to agriculture, with numerous rice mills, pesticide industries, and agricultural implements manufacturing plants.
Haryana has experienced a notable increase in temperatures during 2024. For instance, on 23 June 2024, the day temperature in Haryana was 2.2°C above normal, with the highest maximum temperature recorded in Bhiwani district at 43.8°C. Sirsa's maximum temperature in May reached 50°C.
The Indian meteorological department defines a heat wave as a period when the maximum temperature surpasses 40°C in the plains, 37°C in coastal areas, and 30°C in hilly regions.
Haryana’s heat wave hit its farms the hardest, with farmers saying that paddy yields had substantially reduced. From crops stressed due to a lack of water to heat-induced soil degradation, their worries were plentiful.
A 2024 study by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, a research institute, found that the strength of moist heat had increased by 30% between 1980 and 2020, and areas under heat stress have expanded by 30% to 40% in the past 70 years.
The impact of the heat isn’t limited to reduced yields and crop failure; both industrialists and farmers expressed concern about the lack of labour due to the torrid working conditions.
“Even if someone is slightly educated and capable, they prefer to work in a lower-wage job on a computer rather than burning in the outside heat,” said R*, an industrialist who has been manufacturing post-harvest agricultural implements for over 25 years. “Only those with no alternatives slog in the open fields and do manual labour.”
Higher Costs & Revenue Loss
Industrialists said they were concerned about their machinery breaking down in the heat.
“All our machines are highly sophisticated and often imported as India doesn’t manufacture quality machines. These machines malfunction and overheat in such weather,” said M*, who owns a textile plant with his brother A. “When even our mobile phones overheat, what do you expect from printing machinery?”
Gharaunda, a subdivision in Karnal, a major hub for textiles like blankets and bed sheets, has seen sales dip because the winter, usually the best time for sales, has shortened.
“The last bumper sale was in the winter of 2021,” said A*, co-owner of the textile unit. “Since then, we've been on a constant downhill path. Plants that used to operate 24x7 now barely run a single shift.”
C*, the owner of a plywood manufacturing plant in Yamunanagar, about 70 km away from Karnal, painted a grim picture of the once thriving industry. During heat waves, the demand for electricity increased, straining the power grid and leading to higher costs for energy-dependent industries. Plywood manufacturing requires significant energy to run drying kilns and presses.
“The soaring temperatures have led to a significant spike in energy consumption as we strive to keep our manufacturing plants cool and operational,” said V*, who owns a brass utensil manufacturing unit. "This surge in energy demand translates into higher operational costs for our industry.”
“Furthermore, the extreme heat has strained our machinery and equipment. We've witnessed an uptick in malfunctions and breakdowns, disrupting production schedules and necessitating costly repairs,” he added.
In addition to the impacts on worker health and safety, equipment performance, energy costs, and supply chain operations the heat affects the raw material used in the plywood and metal industries.
“The intense heat waves can affect the quality of raw materials used in plywood production. Excessive heat and dry conditions can cause wood to warp, crack, or become brittle, affecting the quality of the final product, said C. “This results in material wastage and revenue loss.”
V concurred. “The properties of the metals we work with have been altered by the intense heat, posing challenges to maintaining product quality and consistency. We've had to adjust our manufacturing processes to ensure our products still meet our standards,” he explained.
Consequences Govt Air Pollution Measures
Measures to prevent air pollution in the country’s capital, about 120 km to the south, have also had a knock-on effect on industries in Karnal.
A 2002 Supreme Court judgement ruled that brick kilns were only allowed to operate from 1 March to 30 June every year. While this helps mitigate air pollution, it forces brick kiln workers to work in the months with extremely high ambient temperatures along with the gruelling radiant heat from furnaces.
The Commission for Air Quality Management, a statutory body formed in 2021 to identify and address issues related to air quality in the National Capital Region and its neighbouring states, in its 2023 revision of the graded response action plan, had imposed restrictions on the operations of industries in the winter months. In addition to forcing workers to do their jobs in the hotter months of the year this has turned what were year-round jobs into seasonal ones.
“Getting labour is tougher. They say why work here when they can get year-round employment elsewhere,” said S, a brick kiln owner from Indri, a subdivision of Karnal. “Further, the heat lowers productivity and output.”
Residents believe that heat waves are a bigger problem than air pollution.
“We generally have clean air here. Barring a few days, I don’t find any difficulty breathing. This might be a Delhi problem, but the heat surely impacts us,” said D, a 60-year-old resident of Karnal. “I can’t go for a walk before 7 in the evening. Earlier, summers were hot but not hellish like this.”
While the state advanced summer holidays for schools to 28 May from 1 June 2024, due to the rising temperatures, children complained of intense heat keeping them indoors.
“I can’t even go out and play after 7 in the morning,” said Aman, a 10-year-old boy, waiting for his friends in the park. “Even in the evening, parents don’t allow us to go out before 6:30.”
“I find it difficult to withstand the heat for even 15 minutes,” he added. “I’m glad they shut down the schools, as standing for morning assemblies was becoming a dreadful experience, with one or the other student fainting almost every other day.”
Aman’s observations were corroborated by the authorities. The national disaster management authority (NDMA) issued an advisory, explicitly stating that going out in the sun, especially between noon and 3 pm, should be “strictly avoided”.
This, however, is a luxury that many cannot afford.
Impact On Health
India has witnessed a 55% surge in heat-related deaths between 2000-2004 and 2017-2021, with a loss of 167.2 billion potential labour hours in 2021 alone, according to a study by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a United Nations advisory body.
The National Crime Records Bureau, in its annual accidental deaths and suicides in India report for 2022, the latest available data, estimated 730 deaths due to heat strokes for the year, a 95% increase over the 374 deaths in 2021.
The heat wave even had an effect on the recent general elections. Despite efforts to offer shade and hydration facilities at polling stations, the intense heat proved fatal for 25 people on election duty in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
In India, according to a 2022 World Bank report, almost 75% of workers (380 million people) are in jobs that expose them to extreme heat.
Global studies have established that rising temperatures affect poor countries far more than rich. Mortality rates due to an additional day of extreme heat are 25 times higher in a country like India than in the United States.
Most Govt Responses Impractical
In 2016, the Indian government released the country’s first national-level action plan to combat heat waves. Three years later the department of revenue & disaster management, Haryana, released the heat wave action plan, 2019, outlining a comprehensive framework for addressing heat waves in the state.
Many of the recommendations are impractical. For example, the plan recommends that people “Avoid going out in the sun, especially between 12 pm and 3 pm.”
“Most of my sales happen during the daytime. This heat makes it difficult to push my cart, but what can I do?” said R, a fruit and vegetable vendor in Karnal. “If I don’t work, I will die of hunger. The choice is between braving the heat and not having anything to eat.”
Recently, the Haryana department of animal husbandry and dairying had taken steps to protect livestock from the effects of the heat wave. This included providing adequate shelter, shade and access to clean water. Following advisories by the government of India and the state government, field offices have initiated measures to mitigate the heat, such as installing fans and misters.
While the heat wave action plan is a good start, much more needs to be done. Here are some measures that can be adopted:
- Adopt a national cooling programme: Similar to nationwide electrification and piped water supply, a national cooling mission to provide affordable, indigenous air conditioners can be implemented. Financial aid or subsidies can be offered to vulnerable groups, such as low-income families or seniors, to acquire and install cooling devices.
- Implement safe living regulations: Mandate landlords and property owners to uphold well defined safe living conditions, including adequate ventilation and cooling options in rental properties.
- Flexible schedules: Introduce flexible work and school schedules during extreme heat periods, such as enabling remote work or adjusting work timings to minimise outdoor activities during peak temperatures.
- Public awareness campaigns: Launch extensive campaigns to educate the public about heat wave hazards and ways to stay safe, including advice on hydration, recognizing heat-related illnesses, and accessing medical assistance.
- Specialised training: Provide emergency responders and healthcare professionals with specialised training to efficiently handle heat-related emergencies and offer timely medical aid to affected individuals.
- Community resilience: Encourage mutual assistance among neighbours, particularly for the elderly and vulnerable, during heat waves. Leverage religious and other community leaders to foster public support.
- Early warning systems: Invest in improved heat wave forecasting capabilities and develop early warning systems to notify residents and authorities about impending heat waves, facilitating timely preparations and responses.
- Shade nets for crops: Offer farmers financial support to purchase shade nets or construct structures to shield crops from excessive heat. Corporate social responsibility funds could be earmarked for this purpose.
- Crop diversification programs: Encourage the cultivation of heat-tolerant crop varieties less susceptible to heat stress.
- Cooling zones for vendors: Create designated cooling zones or shelters with fans and cold water stations for vendors in open-air markets during heat waves. Provide vendors with training on heat safety protocols and first aid for heat-related illnesses.
- Heat-resistant materials: Investigate the use of heat-resistant materials and coatings in industrial processes to reduce the impact of high temperatures on equipment and infrastructure.
Beating the proverbial heat isn't impossible but requires a multi-dimensional approach, political will, and a bit of imagination. It demands collective action, from policymakers crafting robust heat action plans to individuals staying vigilant and hydrated.
Governments face increasing challenges from the mounting impacts of heat waves in the absence of prompt adaptive strategies and sustainable solutions. A study published in the journal PLOS Climate found that nearly 90% of India is in the “danger zone”.
Data from organisations like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) indicate that heat waves are intensifying in frequency and duration due to climate change.
This trend poses substantial threats to public health, agriculture, infrastructure, and economies. Heat waves exacerbate health issues such as heatstroke, dehydration, and respiratory ailments, particularly impacting vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children, and individuals with existing health conditions.
Furthermore, IPCC reports emphasise the critical necessity for adaptive measures and sustainable approaches to mitigate the impacts of climate change, specifically heat waves. Recommended actions include implementing heat action plans, enhancing urban planning strategies to mitigate urban heat islands, bolstering green infrastructure, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices resilient to extreme temperatures.
*Names have been changed to protect identity.
(Hardik Siroha is an assistant environmental engineer, currently sub regional officer, Karnal, while Diksha Pandey is a scientist, posted as sub-divisional officer, Yamunanagar.)
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