PNS|Hyderabad
Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy said that of the 612 mandals in Telangana, 588 have been classified as heat wave-affected. On April 15, Telangana was notified as a heat wave-affected area, and ex gratia for the families of the deceased has been increased from Rs 50,000 to Rs 4 lakh.
He said that all steps must be taken to ensure that the heat wave does not affect commoners, but if someone dies, they should act from a humanitarian perspective and immediately provide ex-gratia.
The Minister held a review meeting with 12 departments on Friday at his office in the secretariat on the steps that have to be taken in the context of the IMD warning that there is a possibility of heat waves this year and that high temperatures will continue till June.
The Telangana State Disaster Management Department and the IMD have jointly prepared a comprehensive Telangana State Heat Wave Action Plan (HAP)-2025.
Ponguleti said that a nodal officer has been appointed for each district and released the Heat Wave Action Plan–2025.
Addressing the meeting, he said that in the context of the high temperatures and heat waves, drinking water along with ORS and buttermilk packets should be supplied in cooling stations, and that authorities should take steps to ensure that all companies supply these under CSR.
The focus should be on urban areas like Hyderabad, Warangal, Khammam, Mahbubnagar, Nizamabad, Kothagudem, Medak, Karimnagar and other areas, he said.
He directed the Health and Family Welfare Department to take action on things like information regarding heat waves, precautions to be taken by the people during high day temperatures, the establishment of cool wards, and conducting fire safety audits in hospitals.
Similarly, the Industries and Commerce Department has been asked to tell companies to divide workers working in hot areas into two groups and adopt a rotation system to provide at least one or two hours of rest.
The Labour Welfare Department has been asked to focus on things like providing rest, drinking water, ORS packets and shade facilities to solid waste management workers.
Local admin bodies and municipalities should take precautions by providing shelters, drinking water and info about the precautions to be taken during summer in public places like bus stands, markets, tourist centres and places of worship through public address systems and LED screens.
Water should be provided at parks for birds and street animals, he said.
On behalf of Panchayat Raj departments, chlorinated drinking water should be supplied to people, and water should be supplied through tankers in all areas, he said.
Similarly, guidelines have been given to officials of the Information Department, Fisheries and Animal Husbandry Department, Water Supply, Forest and Electricity Departments, Ponguleti added.
