Climate change: Temperature rose by 2 degree Celsius in Northeast India

New Delhi: Even as the world has been abuzz on the topic of climate change and its effects, a study suggests that several Indian states, including the northeastern states will be adversely affected by it.

Development of the North Eastern Region (DoNER) Minister Jitendra Singh, while addressing the Lok Sabha on Thursday said that the northeastern states of India have witnessed a rise of two degree Celsius temperature severely affecting the environment as well as health of the people.

The study was conducted by the Indian Network of Climate Change Assessment (INCCA) in 2010 to asses the impact of climate change on four key sectors of Indian agriculture, water, natural ecosystems and biodiversity.

As per the study, the northeastern region will see a rise in temperatures by 1.8 to 2.1 degrees Celsius and an increase in the mean annual rainfall by 0.3 to 3 percent in the 2030s.

This means that the increase in temperatures may result in reduction in rice production as well as may affect the nutritional health of the people.

The study assessed four climate sensitive regions of India -sensitive Himalayan region, the Western Ghats, the coastal area and the North-East region.

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

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.

Meanwhile, a scientist on Friday claimed that climate change is going to "positively" impact rice and tea crops in northeast.

According to Chandan Mahanta of the IIT-Guwahati, a modelling study carried out by the institute showed that in the next 15 years (till 2030), rice and tea can actually have an advantage from climate change.