Nagpur: The annual heat wave mitigation plan meant to shield citizens from extreme summer conditions is yet to be formally implemented in the city, allegedly due to administrative delays at the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC).The civic body usually rolls out its heatstroke prevention strategy in April. However, heat wave-like conditions were recorded in March this year, prompting calls for the measures to be implemented urgently. The delay has coincided with an administrative transition following the appointment of new municipal commissioner Vipin Itankar and the swearing-in of the city’s new mayor and deputy mayor.Civic officials said the plan requires two key meetings before implementation — one chaired by the municipal commissioner with department heads to finalise operational guidelines, and another led by the mayor to coordinate execution across departments and at the zonal level.According to the civic health department, the proposal file was sent to the commissioner’s office eight days ago and to the mayor’s office four days ago. However, approval to convene the meetings is still awaited. Meanwhile, the health department said preliminary precautionary measures have been underway since March 1. “Efforts are being made to convene the meetings at the earliest. Hospitals and urban primary health centres have initiated preparedness measures,” Dr Deepak Selokar, chief health officer, saidAs part of the plan, cold wards will be set up at 11 hospitals to treat heatstroke patients. These include civic facilities such as Indira Gandhi Hospital in Gandhinagar, Panchpaoli Hospital, and the Isolation Hospital at Imambada, along with major government institutions including Government Medical College and Hospital, Mayo Hospital, the Government Ayurvedic Hospital, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Hospital, Central Railway Hospital, District General Hospital, and ESIC Hospital.Health officials and staff have also begun training in heatstroke management, while surveillance will be conducted in areas identified as heat wave-prone.With temperatures already rising and peak summer weeks approaching, civic officials say early administrative clearance of the plan will be crucial for the city’s preparedness.The proposals• Installing green nets at major traffic junctions and signals• Monitoring heatstroke patients at govt and private hospitals• Training health officials and frontline workers• Keeping city parks open in the afternoons for public relief• Creating rest shelters in govt buildings• Setting up public drinking water kiosks• Shifting homeless people and beggars to civic shelters during peak heat
