The number of extreme heat days in Maharashtra has doubled over the past 50 years, prompting the state to prepare a cooling action plan focused on urban thermal comfort and sustainable construction.
Information was available with The Chenab Times. Abhijit Ghorpade, director of the State Climate Action Cell under the Environment and Climate Change department, shared these details in an interview with The Indian Express.
Ghorpade said both days and nights have become warmer across the state. In response, the climate cell has incorporated a state cooling action plan into the broader climate change strategy. The focus is on providing thermal comfort, particularly in large cities and in mass and affordable housing projects under the Slum Rehabilitation Authority and Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority.
The cell is in discussions with the urban development department to introduce state-level guidelines for green buildings. Officials are examining changes to the Unified Development Control and Promotion Regulations and building codes to encourage sustainable construction materials and greener designs.
Analysis by the cell identified 15 districts as highly vulnerable to heatwave impacts. Of these, 11 are in Vidarbha, two in Marathwada and two in Khandesh. Efforts are concentrated in these areas. Twelve districts already have heat action plans in place, while plans for the remaining three are under development. In Amravati, a cool roof policy has been introduced and incorporated into municipal bylaws.
The state has also witnessed extreme rainfall events in recent days, with heavy showers affecting nearly 29 districts and causing crop damage. Ghorpade noted that analysis of trends over the past five decades shows Maharashtra faces significant exposure to extreme floods, with more than 30 per cent of districts vulnerable. Flood events have increased four-fold in the past decade. Extreme rainfall now often occurs in short, intense bursts exceeding 100 mm in a single day.
Unseasonal rains have led to flash floods in places such as Pune. In coastal cities like Mumbai, encroachment on natural water bodies has heightened flood risks. The geography of Mumbai, situated on a narrow coastal plain between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats, adds to its vulnerability.
To address rising flood risks, the cell has recommended basin-level flood mapping, installation of flood monitoring stations and multi-hazard early warning systems for all talukas.
On the national front, the Centre recently approved a revised Nationally Determined Contribution aiming to reduce emissions by 47 per cent from 2005 levels by 2035. While India targets net-zero emissions by 2070, Maharashtra has set an aspirational goal of achieving net-zero by 2050. Ghorpade described the state as the most progressive in the country and a major contributor to national GDP, justifying the more ambitious timeline.
All AMRUT cities, along with urban and rural areas, are committed to this target. The objective is to advance sustainable goals as quickly as possible given the race against time posed by climate change.
Green cover, open spaces and water bodies serve as important carbon sinks. However, rapid urbanisation and dense population exert pressure on these resources in cities such as Mumbai. To counter this, the state is promoting Miyawaki plantation techniques and bamboo implementation. A bamboo policy has been released, and the use of bamboo in construction is being encouraged across Maharashtra.
The developments come amid broader concerns over extreme weather. Recent heatwaves affected Mumbai with multiple events in March, while the India Meteorological Department has forecast an above-normal number of heatwave days this summer in many parts of the country.
Maharashtra’s initiatives align with national efforts but seek to move faster on mitigation and adaptation. The cooling action plan emphasises buildings and urban planning, while flood management strategies focus on early warning and infrastructure resilience.
Officials stress the need to balance infrastructure growth with environmental protection. Plantation drives and policy changes for sustainable materials form part of this approach.
The State Climate Action Cell continues to develop district-level plans and city-specific strategies to reduce vulnerability and emissions. With 94 per cent of districts considered climate-vulnerable according to various assessments, the state is prioritising science-based actions to safeguard lives, livelihoods and infrastructure.
The Chenab Times News Desk