Northeast India to be adversely affected by climate change: Study

Several Indian states, including its northeastern region, are likely to be affected adversely by climate change.

New Delhi Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 16 Dec 2015, 03:48 PM
Updated : 16 Dec 2015, 03:48 PM

India’s DoNER Minister Jitendra Singh said in Parliament on Wednesday that a study predicted an overall warming, increase in precipitation with variable water yield, change in the composition of the forests, spread of malaria in new areas and threats of its transmission for longer duration.

“The report projects a rise in temperature in the North Eastern Region (NER) in the range of 1.8° C to 2.1° C and an increase in the mean annual rainfall in the order of 0.3 percent to 3 percent in the 2030s.

Projected increase of night-time temperature may lead to decrease in the production of rice and may affect the nutritional health of the population,” said Singh quoting the report.

The study has been conducted by the Indian Network of Climate Change Assessment (INCCA) to assess the impact of climate change on four key sectors of Indian economy-- agriculture, water, natural ecosystems and biodiversity as well as health in the climate-sensitive Himalayan region, the Western Ghats, the coastal area and the North-East region.

Singh said the government formulated the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) in June 2008 to deal with climate change related issues.

He said that 32 states and union territories have prepared the State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC), consistent with objectives of NAPCC and incorporating state-specific vulnerabilities, adaptation needs and other priorities.

“SAPCC will be implemented by the states through state plans, central schemes and other sources of funding. A thematic scheme on ‘Climate Change Action Programme (CCAP)’ with an outlay of Rs 290 crores was launched during the 12th Five Year Plan to address the issues related to climate change,” he added.