Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to enhance preparedness and response mechanisms for heatwave conditions across the state, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said on Saturday.
Briefing the media, Pujari said the SOP is aimed at ensuring coordinated inter-departmental action and empowering district administrations to take timely decisions based on local temperature conditions and ground realities.
District collectors have been authorised to initiate necessary measures under the SOP, subject to subsequent ratification by the state government. “Collectors have been given flexibility to respond quickly depending on the severity of heat conditions in their respective districts,” the Minister said.
Among the proposed measures, the government is considering restrictions on vehicular movement during peak heat hours between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. in regions experiencing extreme temperatures. The plan also includes setting up roadside shelters for drivers and ensuring availability of ORS packets and drinking water to prevent heat-related illnesses.
Pujari further said dedicated heatwave shelters will be established in vulnerable locations, on the lines of existing cyclone and flood shelters in the state.
Emergency services, including ambulances and fire services, have been directed to ensure response within 20 minutes of distress calls, he added.
He also informed that central and state public sector undertakings (PSUs), along with industries along national highways, have agreed to provide drinking water and ORS to commuters during the heatwave period.
The government is working in convergence with multiple departments, including Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water, Housing & Urban Development, and district administrations, to ensure effective implementation of mitigation measures.
“All districts have submitted their preparedness reports, and we are fully equipped to handle the situation. Compared to previous years, Odisha is in a much stronger position to deal with heatwave conditions without major impact,” Pujari said.
