Jaipur: With Rajasthan facing rising temperatures, recurring heat waves, erratic rainfall and mounting water stress, the state govt plans to set up a Climate Change Centre in collaboration with IIT-Jodhpur to strengthen climate research, forecasting and policy planning.The proposed centre, details of which were shared in the Rajasthan Assembly on June 23, will function as a dedicated hub for climate studies and support departments in preparing the long-term impacts of climate change.According to the information tabled in the House, the centre will develop regional climate models and create a state-level climate database to enable evidence-based policymaking on issues such as water management, agriculture and disaster preparedness.A key component of the project will be the establishment of real-time forecasting and early warning systems for extreme weather events, including heat waves, droughts and floods, incidents of which have increased in the state over the past few years.Officials said the centre will also work on improving water-use efficiency, promoting climate-resilient agricultural practices, strengthening groundwater recharge, and supporting integrated water resource management.Besides, it will provide climate-related data and policy inputs to departments dealing with public health, energy, tourism and environmental conservation. Vulnerability mapping and community-based adaptation programmes also form part of the proposed framework.The state govt informed the Assembly that the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board (RSPCB) signed a memorandum of understanding with IIT-Jodhpur on Feb 9 this year for setting up the centre. The project is estimated to cost around Rs 150 crore.Congress MLA Amin Kagzi, who raised the issue in the Assembly, welcomed the initiative but said the govt needed to move beyond planning and ensure effective implementation on the ground.“A climate change centre is a good initiative, but the reality is that people across Rajasthan are already facing the impact of rising temperatures, water shortages and changing weather patterns. The govt needs to do much more to tackle these challenges and ensure that climate-related policies are implemented effectively on the ground,” Kagzi said.
