Climate change to have adverse impact on Northeast: Study

a Correspondent

New Delhi, May 13: The global climate change will have adverse impacts on the Northeast and eastern States. However, the Himalayan region, the Western Ghats and the Coastal area will also have similar impact due to climate change.

A 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 namely agriculture, water, natural ecosystems and biodiversity and health in four climate sensitive regions of India, namely the Himalayan region, the Western Ghats, the Coastal Area and the North-East Region (NER).

The study projects 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, which are likely to cause adverse impacts on the lives of human beings.

The report projects rise in temperature in the North Eastern region in the range of 1.8o C to 2.1o C and increase in the mean annual rainfall in the order of 0.3 percent to 3 percent in 2030s, with respect to the 1970s. Projected increase of night-time temperature may lead to decrease in the production of rice and may affect the nutritional health of the population. Soil erosion due to increase in intensity of precipitation events may lead to an increase in occurrence of landslides, affecting agriculture activities, including tea plantations.

The report also projects that the window of transmission of malaria may remain open for at least for 7 to 9 months in a year. Climate Change related activities are addressed through various schemes of the Centre by integrating these concerns into programme implementation. The Central Government has formulated the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) in June 2008 to deal with the climate- change related issues. NAPCC comprises eight missions in specific areas of solar energy, enhanced energy efficiency, sustainable habitat, water, sustaining Himalayan Ecosystems, Green India, sustainable agriculture and strategic knowledge for climate change. Thirty-two States and Union Territories including all States from North Eastern region have prepared State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) in sync with the 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.