Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy announces measures to mitigate the impact of heatwaves.
Hyderabad: With the rising temperatures and hot winds across the state, the government has the responsibility to protect the public, said revenue minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy. He directed the relevant departments to take robust preventive measures. Citing Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) warnings that heatwaves will intensify until June, the minister held a review meeting on Friday with officials from 12 departments concerned at the Secretariat.
As part of this, the Telangana State Disaster Management Authority, in collaboration with the IMD, has developed the Telangana State Heatwave Action Plan (HAP) – 2025. A nodal officer has been appointed for each district. The minister formally released the Heatwave Action Plan 2025 during the meeting.
He stated that 588 out of 612 mandals had been categorised as heatwave-affected. The state government had declared the heatwave as a 'state-specific disaster' on April 15. The ex gratia for families of heatstroke victims had been increased from Rs 50,000 to Rs 4 lakh.
Srinivas Reddy said all measures should be taken to prevent the impact of heatwaves on the general public. However, in the event of unexpected fatalities, immediate ex-gratia payments should be made from a humanitarian perspective, he added.
Beating the heat
Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy directed officials to undertake a series of measures to provide relief to the people in the summer
Supply ORS packs and buttermilk packets along with drinking water at water kiosks.
Coordinate with companies under CSR to supply these items.
Focus on including Hyderabad, Warangal, Khammam, Mahbubnagar, Nizamabad, Kothagudem, Medak and Karimnagar.
Health department to ensure the availability of ORS packets at primary health centres and hospitals. Department to disseminate heatwave-related precautions, creation of cool wards and conduct fire safety audits in hospitals.
Industries and commerce department to advise factories in high-temperature areas to follow a shift rotation, providing 1-2 hours of rest for workers, dividing them into two groups.
Labour Welfare Department to ensure rest, drinking water, ORS packets, and shaded resting areas for sanitation and solid waste management workers.
Local bodies and municipalities to arrange shelters, drinking water, and awareness campaigns via public address systems and LED screens at bus stands, markets, tourist spots, and places of worship.
· Officials to arrange water for birds and stray animals near parks.
* Rural development and panchayati raj department, chlorinated drinking water to be supplied to the public
Water tankers to be deployed to areas facing shortages.
