Bhubaneswar: In a high-level review meeting held today at the 3rd Floor Conference Hall of Kharavela Bhawan, Dr. Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, Minister for Housing & Urban Development, thoroughly assessed the department’s readiness and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to combat the impending heat wave across Odisha’s urban centres.
Arindam Dakua, Director of Municipal Administration, opened the session by outlining the agenda and presenting a comprehensive overview of the Heat Wave SOPs. He highlighted critical action points and preparedness strategies that all Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) must implement to safeguard citizens from extreme temperatures.
Addressing senior officials via virtual mode, Minister Dr. Mahapatra stressed the need for urgent, coordinated, and proactive measures as temperatures begin to climb across the state. He emphasised strengthening urban resilience and ensuring seamless delivery of essential civic services during the harsh summer months.
The Minister directed all departmental heads and ULBs to strictly adhere to the notified Heat Wave SOPs in both letter and spirit. Special focus was placed on maintaining uninterrupted and equitable drinking water supply. He instructed WATCO and the Engineer-in-Chief (Public Health) to ensure zero disruption in water services, especially during peak heat hours.
Commissioners of Municipal Corporations and Executive Officers of Municipalities and Notified Area Councils (NACs) were tasked with immediately operationalising local heat mitigation measures. These include setting up public drinking water kiosks, shaded rest areas, and cooling facilities in crowded public zones such as markets, bus stands, and railway stations.
To strengthen field-level coordination, Project Directors of District Urban Development Agencies (DUDAs) were assigned the responsibility of closely monitoring implementation and activating swift response mechanisms for any heat-related emergencies. All ULBs were further directed to keep 24×7 control rooms operational with dedicated helpline numbers, which must be widely publicised through social media, local cable networks, and pamphlets for easy public access.
In a firm people-centric directive, Dr. Mahapatra declared, “No one should die of sunstroke. All officials must remain alert, vigilant, and responsive at every level.” He called for timely intervention, widespread community awareness campaigns, and rigorous field-level vigilance to prevent any loss of life due to extreme heat.
Additional Chief Secretary to the H&UD Department, Usha Padhee, underscored the importance of meticulous adherence to the SOPs. She urged continuous monitoring and strict accountability at all administrative levels to ensure effective on-ground execution.The meeting witnessed active participation from senior officials of the Housing & Urban Development Department, including all Additional Secretaries and key functionaries. Municipal Commissioners and Executive Officers from across the state joined through video conferencing, reflecting a unified administrative approach.
The department reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to protecting the well-being of urban residents and upholding high standards of public service delivery even under challenging weather conditions.
