Heat, certainly not part of cool Viksit B

The economy is hotting up - and not in a good way. This summer, temperatures are already pushing towards 42° C ('feel like 50° C') in north, west and central states. India Meteorological Department (IMD) has announced that there is little chance of immediate relief from the heatwave. A yellow alert was issued on Tuesday, and people have been advised to stay careful, avoid exposure to direct sunlight for longer periods, and remain hydrated. Weather forecasts suggest that the maximum temperature may remain around 44° C, while the minimum temperature could stay close to 30° C in the coming days. Super El Nino - exceptionally intense phase of the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (Enso) in which sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean surge by 2° C or more above normal levels - may make 2026 the hottest year yet. No matter what optimists say, we're in for a terrible time.

Extreme heat, high humidity and high night temperatures are become signatures of the Indian summer. It is no longer the season of mangoes, lichees and watermelons. It has become a crisis with adverse health and productivity, and severe economic impacts yet to be properly measured that need immediate system-wide attention. Tackling heat is about thermal comfort. With more than 50% of the urban infra required by 2050 yet to be built, addressing the heat crisis requires passive cooling interventions ranging from design changes like bigger windows to construction practices like in-built roof insulation to using building materials that resist or delay heat flow. Interventions like district cooling can help. But that will require planning and investment. As will neighbourhood-scale interventions like increased tree canopy cover for shade and evaporative cooling.

Rising heat is already affecting productivity and economic growth. Gig workers 'out there' are reeling. More than 300 towns and cities have heat action plans. But these need to go from reactive to proactive. Someone should understand that extreme heat is a disaster. We need to prioritise and 'kill' it.