(a) whether as per the fifth Annual Report of the Maple Craft
Climate Change Vulnerability Index (CCVI), some of the major cities
of India are listed among the top 20 are going to be effected in
future with dangers such as droughts, cyclones, water crises etc.;
(b) if so, the details thereof including the reaction of the
Government thereto; and
(c) the action plan being chalked out by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS
(SHRIMATI JAYANTHI NATARAJAN)
(a) and (b) As per the Maplecroft Climate Change Vulnerability Index (CCVI)
developed under a private initiative, Kolkata is ranked 7th amongst the
seven cities regarded as being exposed to extreme risk of changing
temperatures and weather systems. Mumbai and Delhi are ranked 8th and 20th
respectively amongst 19 high risk cities wherein pressure on country’s water
resources is likely to increase posing risks of drought and water crisis.
(c) Government of India is aware of the implications of climate change
and vulnerability of various regions and communities to its adverse effects.
Government has implemented the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC)
which includes National Missions in several areas including Water, Sustainable
Agriculture and Sustainable Habitat. The National Water Mission aims at
conserving water, minimizing wastage and ensuring its more equitable distribution.
The National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture aims at protecting water resources
for sustainable production of food. The National Mission on Sustainable Habitat
includes, inter alia, activities for managing coastal zone. NAPCC also includes
initiatives for Disaster Management Response to Extreme Climate Events and
Protection of Coastal Areas.
The Coastal Regulation Zone Notification was published in 2011 with an aim of
protecting livelihoods of fisher folk communities, preservation of ecology and
promotion of economic activity in coastal areas. Further, Government has
initiated, with the assistance of the World Bank, a project on ‘Integrated
Coastal Zone Management Plan’ for mapping of a hazard line along the coastal
areas of the country taking into account the sea level rise due to climate
change and other parameters such as, shoreline change, tides and wave.