Bhubaneswar: In anticipation of the upcoming summer, a high-level review meeting focused on heatwave preparedness was convened at Lok Seva Bhawan, led by Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari today.
The meeting thoroughly examined the measures taken by various departments to address potential heatwave scenarios in the state and evaluated past preparations. In this regard, the Minister instructed all departments to implement pre-emptive measures and prioritize the safety of human life.
Pujari called for the establishment of model cooling shelters in areas likely to be impacted by heatwaves and emphasized the need for special arrangements to protect school students and daily laborers.
Recognizing the gravity of the heatwave issue, he directed that District Magistrates across all districts be granted full authority by the government to take swift actions in their regions to ensure public safety and address urgent concerns.
Additional Chief Secretary of the Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Dr. Arabinda Padhee, highlighted the importance of raising public awareness and assured that the department would support all district administrations.
Special Relief Commissioner (STC) Rajesh Prabhakar Patil stated that the department is fully equipped to handle both heatwave conditions and the upcoming monsoon.
During the meeting, it was agreed that to safeguard workers engaged in physical labor in both government and private sectors, no construction activities would be permitted during peak heat hours, specifically from 11 AM to 3 PM. Pujari instructed that strict measures be enforced against those who violate this directive by employing workers or the general public during these hours.
Provisions such as umbrellas, drinking water, first-aid kits, ORS powder, and cold rooms will be ensured in schools, hospitals, and other public facilities. Additionally, special alerts will be implemented in schools to remind children to hydrate regularly. The meeting also addressed the need for temporary shelters at congested traffic zones, and the Health Department was tasked with setting up special trauma wards in hospitals.
Plans were made to repair tube wells in all Gram Panchayats and arrange water tankers in both rural and urban areas as needed. Given the frequent power outages during summer, the Power Department will implement special measures to reserve additional power for uninterrupted public supply.
When citizens reach out to the Power Department via the helpline, they must be treated with patience and assured that their concerns will be addressed.
Regions like Jharsuguda, Brajrajnagar, Angul, and Talcher, which are particularly vulnerable to heatwaves, will receive special attention with tailored arrangements. Cooling shelters and protective measures will be established in various mining areas and factories for worker safety.
The discussion also included increasing the number of air-conditioned buses during extreme heat conditions. Furthermore, the Revenue Department was asked to allocate vacant government land for small-scale urban afforestation initiatives over the long term, as well as to enhance the green cover on the outer walls of large buildings.
Officials were also instructed to boost public awareness regarding heatwaves and particulate pollution through regular updates via media and other channels.
