Bhubaneswar: As the heat wave condition began in most parts of the State in the middle of February with the mercury soaring to above 35 Degrees C, the Odisha Government has instructed all Collectors and other concerned departments to stay prepared to tackle any kind of eventuality.
In a letter to the Collectors, the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Satyabrata Sahu shared the detailed instructions issued by the government to take measures for managing heat waves and water scarcity situations during the summer.
The SRC said that a Heat Wave Action Plan will be developed by OSDMA delineating the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for different Departments, District Administrations and others to mitigate the heat wave situations.
Some measures to be taken by the district administration are given below—-
Public awareness is the key to check heat wave-related illnesses and casualties. Hence, awareness campaigns may be taken up immediately to make people aware about the risks associated with heat wave, identifying the risk, “Do’s and Don’ts” to protect human beings and livestock from the said risks and what to do if someone is affected. Civil Society Organizations may be widely involved in awareness campaigns.
On receipt of heat wave warning messages, besides other modes of communication, local media should be used to keep the public alert.
Water scarcity is often associated with heat wave situation which needs special attention. The District Administration is required to take advance steps to identify the water scarcity pockets (village/ hamlet/ ward wise) and prepare action plan for ensuring supply of water for drinking and other uses through tankers to “those areas. Reports of water scarcity are to be responded to immediately.
Preventive maintenance of tube wells and piped water supply systems should start immediately, if not already taken up. Necessary arrangements may be put in place for attending to the complaints on the functioning of tube wells and piped water supply systems.
Water Resources Department will take steps to release water through canals from reservoirs depending on requirements.
“Paniya Jala Seva Kendras” (Drinking Water Kiosks) are required to be opened by Urban Local Bodies/ Gram Panchayats at marketplaces, bus stands and other congregation points. Water provided in such water kiosks must be of portable quality and proper sanitation maintained including use of long handle dispensers and change of water daily. Sincere and willing Civil Society Organisations may be associated for this task. Agencies doing such work only for self-publicity and discontinuing the same after initial days should be avoided and dealt with strongly.
The Urban shelters, community buildings and other public buildings in rural and urban areas may be used as daytime shelters for homeless/ needy people for their rest during day time. Separate arrangements for men and women may be made as far as possible. Safe drinking water and ORS sachets for the people may be arranged in the shelters. Panchayatiraj & DW Department and Housing & UD Department may issue detailed instructions in this regard.
In Schools, Colleges and other Academic/ Technical institutions, extra care has to be taken to ensure the availability of drinking water. Wherever required, tube wells inside the school campus may be repaired to ensure uninterrupted drinking water supply. Sufficient ORS are also to be kept in Schools and colleges and provided to students/ staff requiring the same. Outdoor activities have to be restricted so as the students not to be exposed to heatwave conditions.
Most importantly, all parents should be sensitized to ensure that their children carry a water bottle while going to school/ college. This should be sufficiently publicized to create awareness among the parents.
Schools may also be advised to allocate some time during school hours to give heat wave precautionary tips to the students.
The School and Mass Education, Higher Education, Skill Development and Technical Education departments may issue detailed instructions on the above points.
Anganwadi Centres may remain open in the morning hours only. The availability of portable water in all AWCs must be checked and ensured. Sufficient ORS packets should also be available with ASHA and AWWs.
Sufficient lifesaving medicines, saline, ORS may be stored in dispensaries, PHCs, CHCs and Subdivision/ District Headquarters Hospitals to meet the requirement. Special arrangements may be made and separate wards/ beds be earmarked for treatment of heat stroke patients in different hospitals. The ESI Dispensaries may be directed to treat the general public.
All public transport vehicles must carry sufficient portable water and ORS packets to be provided to passengers/ staff requiring the same. During severe heat wave conditions, timings of non-air-conditioned public transport seruices may have to be rescheduled avoiding their plying during peak hours of heat wave. However, while doing so, inconvenience likely to be caused to long-route passengers must be kept in mind. C &T (Transport) Department may issue detailed instructions in this regard.
The timing for the engagement of labourers / workmen at worksites may be rescheduled. No work should be executed in peak hours during heat wave period. The employers must make necessary arrangements for supply of drinking water, ORS packets and provision of rest shed at the worksite. Labour & ESI Department may issue detailed instructions in this regard.
The Energy Department will issue instructions to the Distribution Companies to maintain an uninterrupted power supply during summer months. In case, load-shedding is absolutely necessary in some areas, the schedule must be announced for information of consumers sufficiently in advance.
Awareness raising measures may be taken up on the concept of cool roof technology i.e. white painting of roofs to reduce the indoor atmospheric temperature.
The control rooms at the State level and the District level shall function round the clock during the period of heat wave. The heat wave warnings issued by IMD should be tracked on a regular basis and if necessary, Control Room of IMD/ State EOC may be contacted for such information.
Members of Panchayati Raj Institutions in the district may be sensitizdd and impressed upon to monitor the heat wave mitigation measures in their areas and observance of heat wave safety protocols by the people.
The Collector may depute Senior Officers to verify and ensure necessary arrangements in Medical Institutions, Schools, Colleges, Anganwadi Centres etc.
All efforts should be made to see that no human casualty occurs due to heat wave. However, if any information on casualty is received or news reports published in media, it should be immediately enquired into and the veracity of such reports should be promptly reported to this office.
Where reports regarding death of a person due to sunstroke either at workplace or any other area is received, the Collector should arrange to conduct an immediate joint inquiry of the case by the local Revenue Officer like Tahsildar or Additional Tahsildar (in rural areas) or any other Revenue Officer in Urban areas (authorized by concerned Sub-Collector) and the local Medical Officer (to be nominated by the CDMO/ SDMO). The joint enquiry report with the countersignature of Collector should reach this office within 48 hours of the reported death.
Where, upon inquiry, the death is confirmed to have occurred due to sunstroke, immediate steps shall be taken to process the case in DAMPS for sanction and payment of ex-gratia to the bereaved family.
A meeting of the District Level Committee on Natural Calamities/ District Disaster Management Authority may be convened to review the preparedness of the District Administration to manage the contingency of Heat Wave and necessary further measures be taken as per advice/ direction of the committee/ authority.
