In a significant initiative to combat the worsening heatwave, the administrations of Jharsuguda and Raigarh in Chhattisgarh convened a high-level inter-state coordination meeting on Saturday. The meeting aimed to protect laborers and drivers operating in industrial hubs, mining regions, and vital transport corridors connecting the two states.
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, who participated in the meeting virtually, emphasized the importance of coordination and real-time information sharing to reduce heat-related hazards. He highlighted that NH-49 is a particularly vulnerable area and instructed authorities to ensure there are no casualties due to extreme weather.
The minister advocated for a specialized safety plan after 11 am, which includes the establishment of temporary shelters and the installation of water tanks at critical locations. He stressed the need for a dedicated safety corridor to safeguard truck drivers, helpers, and industrial workers exposed to high temperatures.
A significant resolution from the meeting was to impose a strict ban on the operation of non-AC vehicles and outdoor labor activities between 11 am and 3 pm.
Authorities will also establish hydration kiosks and drinking water stations at petrol stations and strategic highway locations. Mining and industrial companies have been instructed to provide shaded rest areas, first-aid services, and adequate facilities at truck parking zones. Additional measures, such as water sprinkling on transit roads and the deployment of ambulances along NH-49, have been planned.
The meeting included the participation of Jharsuguda Collector Kunal Motiram Chavan, Raigarh Collector Mayank Chaturvedi, and MCL CMD Uday A Kaole, along with senior officials from both districts, including Jharsuguda Additional District Collector Kishore Chandra Swain and Sub-Collector Sabyasachi Panda.
