Dikhyaa Mohanty 
Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, the minister of housing and urban development, reviewed the different steps implemented in urban areas on Friday in light of the summer heatwave. An official news statement states that Minister Mahapatra gave stern directions during the review to guarantee that there is never a drinking water scarcity, to turn on non-functional tube wells, to activate 24-hour control centers, and to immediately handle public concerns. In order to combat the summer hot, he suggested rigorous adherence to the department’s rules.
The department’s instruction emphasizes how erratic rains and erratic weather patterns have caused an unseasonably high summertime temperature. Large buildings, broad roadways, and heat-absorbing infrastructure are also contributing to the rising temperatures that urban dwellers are experiencing. The Housing and Urban Development Department has released a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and stressed its rigorous application in light of the circumstances. Usha Padhee, the department’s principal secretary, gave thorough details on the actions that all urban local authorities must follow.
According to the regulation, every metropolitan area must have a sufficient supply of drinking water. Water supply pipelines should be kept in good operating order in order to do this, and any complaints about the water supply should be addressed within a day. Water tankers should be stationed at the appropriate areas, and emergency procedures should be implemented to guarantee the provision of drinking water. If more tankers are needed, they can be scheduled. Every hand pump and tube well has to be kept in working order, and replacement parts have to be easily accessible for maintenance. To handle concerns about water shortages, control rooms should be manned by responsible authorities and kept open on time.
The heatwave alerts issued by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) should be regularly tracked, and necessary communication should be established with the IMD or State Control Room if required.
