Chandigarh April 20
Haryana Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal today called the meeting of senior officers of Power, Health, Public Health Engineering, Labour and Revenue Departments for management and mitigation of the adverse effects of extreme weather conditions predicted by Indian Metrological Department.
It was apprised in the meeting by the officers of Power Utilities that there will be no shortage of power. The Power utilities have already made adequate arrangements to meet the growing demand of power this summer. The officers of the PHED and Irrigation Department divulged the details of adequate availability of water for drinking and irrigation purposes. Hence, the Chief Secretary decided that there will be no change of rescheduling of working hours for government employees.
Kaushal directed the officers to urge the farmers to provide water and shade to their livestock and avoid working them during the hottest parts of the day. He asked the officers to launch an awareness campaign to educate people about the risks of heatwaves and the importance of taking necessary precautions.
The Chief Secretary directed the health department to ensure adequate quantities of ORS packs, essential medicines, IV fluids, ice – packs, and equipment to support the management of volume depletion and electrolyte imbalance etc. He also directed them to ensure sufficient availability of cooling appliances and their functioning. He asked the Health department to equip ambulance with ice packs and cold water for early management of heat-related illness cases. He said that cases with suspected heat stroke should be rapidly assessed using standard treatment protocols.
Kaushal further directed the officers of Fire Department to ensure precautionary measures to prevent fire incidents due to extreme weather condition. He asked them to ensure a fire extinguisher in every government building, private high rising building and flats. He further asked them to check the functioning of fire extinguishers.
The Chief Secretary directed the Labour and Health Departemnt to issue health advisories and plan IEC activities from time to time to make the public especially the labourers aware about the precautions taken to safeguard against heat wave IEC material on heat wave for vulnerable general population prepared by is available .
The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary and Financial Commissioner, Revenue and Disaster Management and Consolidation Departments, Rajesh Khullar, Additional Chief Secretary, Labour, Raja Sekhar Vundru, Special Secretary, Home, Mahavir Kaushik, Director General Health Services, Sonia Trikha, and other senior officers of various Departments.
