Telangana government to provide cool roof for denizens

Hyderabad: To counter the increasing number of heat waves, the state government has started the Telangana Coof Roof programme. The project has been developed along with researchers from the Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI) and involves covering rooftops of buildings with materials such as plastic sheets, ceramic tiles or lime plaster to reduce the ambient temperature inside.

Rajkiran Bilolikar, an associate professor at ASCI, who is closely involved in the implementation of the programme, said, “We hope to offer suitable solutions to different sections of the population. For homes in urban slums or underdeveloped areas, a white plastic sheet would be the best option as it reflects sunlight in summer and prevents water seepage in the rainy season. In the winter, this could serve as insulation when laid on the floor.”

Mr Bilolikar said with these measures, ambient temperatures have dropped by 5-8 degrees Celsius in some cases, thereby creating a comfortable environment within homes. The cheapest option, a coating of lime plaster, can cost as little as Rs 20-40 per sq ft. The most expensive option, specially-designed ceramic tiles, can cost nearly Rs 100 per sq ft. “These tiles are a semi-permanent option. We suggest them for high and middle income groups,” said Mr Bilolikar.

Implemented as a pilot project in some places in Hyderabad, the state government plans to expand the programme by next summer. “We hope to advertise and publicise the programme in slums and other areas in 2020,” said Mr Bilolikar.

The programme hopes to cover 1,00,000 sq m of roofs over the next year, 30,00,000 sq m over five years in Hyderabad.

It will be implemented across Telangana after the first year. It will try to cover 83,00,000 sq m of roofs across the state in five years.