India, April 3 -- India could lose up to 5% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to rising temperatures by 2030, Union minister Jitendra Singh told Lok Sabha, citing a World Bank report and detailing the mitigation plans.

Singh said states such as Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh were likely to be severely impacted by heat, which is recognised as a severe threat, and the State Disaster Management Agencies of the two states prepared action plans in 2016 and 2019. "Also, the State Planning Commission has set up the heat action network to advance efforts for inter-departmental and intersectoral engagement toward heat mitigation," said Singh on Wednesday while responding to Bharatiya Janata Party lawmakers DK Aruna and Eatala Rajender's question...