The State Government on Saturday asked all district Collectors to ensure provision of drinking water and uninterrupted power supply in both the rural and urban areas in view of the continued heat wave conditions prevailing in the entire State.
Besides, the Government has announced early summer vacation for schools and colleges. While all the schools would remain closed from May 1, the colleges would remain locked from May 9 to June 17, Chief Secretary Jugal Kishore Mohapatra said.Presiding over a high-level meeting on heat wave, Mohapatra said the State machinery is taking all possible steps to combat heat wave conditions. The district Collectors have been asked to create public awareness massively through media and distributing leaflets and putting up posters at different places.
He said the Anganwadi centers would remain open till 10.30 am. The AWCs have been supplied with ORS and first aid measures. The AWC workers will take up awareness activities regarding special care for children, pregnant women and lactating mothers during summer.The Chief Secretary said the Rural Development and Public Health Departments have been asked to supply drinking water through tankers in water scarcity areas. All the pump houses and RWSS points would be kept functional during the summer, he said. The two departments have also been asked to keep hired generator sets ready in the pump houses to meet any power supply eventuality.
Energy Secretary PK Jena said the peak hour power demand in the State has increased to 3,700 mega watt. However, he said the State is generating adequate power to meet the demand. There would be no power cut during the summer, he asserted.Similarly, the Chief Secretary has asked the Water Resources Department to keep water level in the reservoirs to enable the power channels to generate sustained energy.Besides, the Department was asked to discharge water in the canals to avoid scarcity.
These apart other measures have also been taken to tackle the heat wave conditions. Each block would be provided with four vehicles with manpower for preventive maintenance of tube wells.Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra said preparedness meetings at district levels have already been held and the situation is being monitored continuously.
The SRC said air-conditioners and coolers have been set up in different wards of each hospital for treatment of heatstroke patients round the clock. The ESI hospitals will also treat general heat wave patients, he said.
Confirming that one person has died due to sunstroke, Mohapatra said while reported sunstroke related deaths now stood at 12, three of them found dead not due to sunstroke. In nine cases, investigations are on to ascertain the cause of deaths, he said, adding that the district Collectors have been asked to verify the reports and submit the same within three days time.
He further informed that restrictions have been imposed on movement of public transport between 11 am to 3 pm. All the bus owners and associations have been asked to keep portable safe drinking water and first aid boxes in their respective buses. Similarly, orders have been issued to all concerned not to employ labourers between 11am and 3 pm, he said.