With summer getting harsh and temperatures climbing steadily since start of March, citizens are feeling the intensity of scorch much earlier than usual. However, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is yet to finalise and implement its annual Heat Action Plan, raising concerns over the city’s preparedness to tackle heatwave conditions. The civic body normally implements the Heat Action Plan from April, but the early rise in temperatures this year has increased the urgency for immediate action. Despite this, the plan remains pending as a review meeting between the newly-appointed Municipal Commissioner and the Mayor has not yet been held. Officials from the Health Department said, the proposal related to heatstroke prevention was sent to the Municipal Commissioner’s office about eight days ago and later forwarded to the Mayor’s office four days ago.

 

The final approval and instructions for implementation will be issued only after a joint review meeting. Meanwhile, the Health Department has started preliminary preparations at the hospital level. Special ‘cold wards’ are being prepared in 11 hospitals across the city to treat patients suffering from heat-related illnesses. These include NMC-run Indira Gandhi Hospital in Gandhi Nagar, Panchpaoli Hospital and the Isolation Hospital at Imambada. Other Government hospitals such as Mayo Hospital, Government Medical College and Hospital, Government Ayurvedic Hospital, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Hospital in Indora, the Central Railway Hospital and the District General Hospital are also part of the arrangement. Training programmes for doctors and health staff have also begun to ensure prompt treatment of patients affected by heatstroke and dehydration.

 

In addition, several heat-prone locations across the city have been identified where special monitoring will be carried out once the action plan comes into effect. Dr Deepak Selokar, Chief Health Officer, NMC, confirmed that the file regarding the heatstroke prevention plan has already been submitted to the offices of the Municipal Commissioner and the Mayor. He said, efforts are being made to convene the meeting at the earliest so that departmental instructions and zone-level action plans can be finalised. Until the plan receives formal approval, however, the city’s comprehensive response to the rising summer heat remains incomplete.