Lucknow — An introductory meeting on ‘City Heat Action Plans’ was held at the Uttar Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (UPSDMA) auditorium. The meeting, chaired by the authority’s Vice Chairman, Lieutenant General Yogendra Dimri, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd.), aimed to evaluate the technical presentations and proposals for Heat Action Plans (HAPs) for various cities in the state.
Revenue Secretary and Relief Commissioner Bhanu Chandra Goswami stated that the intensity and frequency of heatwaves are increasing in the state due to climate change and geographical conditions. He emphasized the need for a practical City Heat Action Plan that can be implemented on the ground to provide direct benefits to the public, particularly in urban areas where concrete surfaces, traffic, and industrial activity further amplify temperatures.
The meeting reviewed the HAPs already developed for Lucknow, Agra, and Varanasi, with plans for Kanpur and Prayagraj currently underway. Proposals for other cities will be prepared soon.
Experts from various institutions, including KGMU, IIT Kanpur, IIT (BHU), IIT Roorkee, and AIIMS Gorakhpur, provided technical presentations and shared their suggestions. Dr. Mahavir Golechha, Professor and Head of IIPH Gandhinagar, highlighted the importance of coordination with local bodies and raising public awareness.
Lt. Gen. Dimri stressed the need for collaboration between governmental and non-governmental organizations to tackle the heatwave challenge. He underscored the importance of providing technical support to municipal officials, raising environmental and public health awareness, and implementing planned actions to prevent heat-related illnesses.
