
Rajasthan Heatwave and Article 21: Enforcing the Right to a Clean Environment Amid Climate Change
Over the past several weeks, Rajasthan has been experiencing one of the most severe heatwaves in its recorded history. Temperatures during the day have risen to more than fifty degrees Celsius in numerous areas where the heatwave has been documented.
It was stated by the India Meteorological Department that places like Churu and Phalodi were subjected to “extreme heat” advisories for many days in a row, which placed a significant amount of strain on public health systems, electrical grids, and water supplies.
Heat exhaustion, dehydration, and, regrettably, an increasing mortality toll have been experienced by vulnerable groups, notably with regard to the elderly, children, and laborers who are paid on a daily pay.
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As a result of the crisis, major deficiencies in early warning distribution, community cooling infrastructure, and the state’s preparation to deal with growing climatic extremes have been brought to light.
This growing disaster in Rajasthan raises important concerns concerning the constitutionality of India’s fundamental rights and whether or not they can be enforced. Through judicial interpretation, Article 21, which ensures the right to life and personal liberty, has expanded to include the right to a clean and healthy environment now that it has been interpreted.
The United States Supreme Court has issued landmark decisions that have established that environmental deterioration, whether it be through air pollution, water contamination, or ecological devastation, has a direct impact on the quality of life and the dignity of individuals.
When viewed in this light, a lethal heatwave can no longer be regarded as merely an unpleasant natural occurrence; rather, it must be treated as a symptom of climate change that poses a danger to the state’s commitment to protect the constitutional rights of its residents.
In previous decisions, the courts have taken measures to remedy ecological imbalances by mandating the establishment of environmental tribunals, enforcing stringent emission regulations, and ordering afforestation initiatives.
There have been several instances in which the judicial system has reaffirmed that the state is obligated to maintain environmental resources in trust for both the current generation and the generations to come.
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By extending these concepts to the arena of climate extremes, public interest litigations that have been launched in a variety of high courts have forced governments to prepare heat response plans, ensure that cooling facilities have uninterrupted electricity, and provide supplies that can save lives, such as oral rehydration treatments.
However, despite the fact that policy frameworks have been proposed by national climate agencies and procedures have been implemented by other vulnerable nations, the implementation of these frameworks on the ground in Rajasthan has remained episodic and reactive.
When it comes to the most severe effects of global warming, climate scientists warn that the western plains of the subcontinent are at the forefront of the situation. According to the findings of international panels, the intensity and frequency of heatwaves are increasing, which can be attributed to the increasing quantities of greenhouse gases.
The “urban heat island” effect is exacerbated by urbanization and changes in land use, which results in towns such as Jaipur and Jodhpur being significantly hotter than the rural regions that are located in their immediate vicinity.
As a result of this, the state government issued an advise requesting that individuals minimize their activities that take place outside between the hours of midday and late afternoon. Additionally, schools were encouraged to switch to staggered schedules, and businesses were requested to reduce operations that were not required.
In spite of this, these interventions have not been very effective in addressing the profound structural vulnerabilities that leave millions of people vulnerable to temperatures that are potentially fatal.
The lack of a solid public cooling infrastructure has led to the implementation of community-driven projects that have sought to fill the void. There are temporary night shelters that have been built by non-profit groups.
These shelters are equipped with fans and drinking water, and volunteers are patrolling slum clusters to identify persons who are displaying symptoms of heat stress. Despite the fact that they are humanitarian, these grassroots efforts highlight a serious reality: constitutional rights alone offer minimal protection in the event that state authorities fail to institutionalize climate resilience.
Not only does the right to life that is envisioned in Article 21 need judicial pronouncements, but it also requires tangible administrative action that is supported by scientific evidence and continuous finance.
Consequently, it is the responsibility of policymakers to transform legislative requirements into systemic solutions. The integration of weather forecasts with real-time alarm systems, the equitable distribution of cooling facilities across urban and rural regions, and the guarantee of uninterrupted energy for homes that are susceptible would be the components of a complete heat action plan.
A further measure that might drastically cut morbidity and death rates is the building of public health infrastructure. This could be accomplished by establishing mobile medical units that are educated in heat-related diseases and rapid-response teams for crisis regions.
The management of water resources should also be a priority, and this includes the collection of rainfall, the rehabilitation of old stepwells, and the implementation of stringent penalties for the exploitation of groundwater without authorization.
Not only does the heatwave crisis in Rajasthan require urgent assistance, but it also necessitates a more comprehensive reconsideration of development paradigms in the context of climate change.
Sustainable urban design, which includes the use of green belts, reflecting building materials, and shaded public places, has the potential to effectively decrease temperature surges.
In a similar vein, agricultural policies should provide incentives for heat-resistant crops and irrigation methods that preserve water while preserving yields. The commitment of the state to renewable energy, in particular decentralized solar power, has the potential to lessen the state’s dependency on fossil fuels and to improve the responsiveness of the local grid during times of peak demand.
Citizens and courts are ultimately given the ability to seek environmental justice thanks to the legal framework that Article 21 provides. Nevertheless, the constitutional promise of a clean environment will continue to be empty unless it is supported by proactive governance and planning that involves participation from participants.
As a clear reminder that climate change is not a threat from the distant future but rather a contemporary emergency that is straining the fundamental foundations of life and liberty, the heatwave that affected Rajasthan serves as a stark reminder. The state’s reaction, or lack thereof, will decide whether Article 21 is a solid shield for human dignity or just an aspirational notion removed from the daily reality of communities that are harmed by climate change. This will be determined when the mercury continues its inexorable climb.