Govt department meet today to tackle heat wave and water shortage in Maharashtra

MUMBAI: A week after the Kharghar tragedy, in which 14 people died of heatstroke or dehydration, the Shinde-Fadnavis government has convened a meeting of divisional commissioners and district collectors.
They will meet on Monday to draft a strategy for tackling heat wave-like conditions and shortage of drinking water across the state.

As per the agenda for the meeting, more than half a dozen departments will make PowerPoint presentations on measures needed to shield the populace, especially those wo-rking outdoors, from the effects of a heat wave.
The relief and rehabilitation department will present the steps needed to be taken, guidelines prescribed by the Centre and revised measures to be adopted by the state government. The agriculture department will make a presentation on the possibility of a sustained heat wave and other natural calamities, such as a drought and unseasonal rain, and measures needed to counter their effect. The water supply department will present an action plan on preparations made for tackling shortage of drinking water, while the public health department will make a presentation on the state's preparedness for tackling a heat wave in terms of health concerns.
A bureaucrat said officials of public health, water supply and relief and rehabilitation departments will brief the meeting on the Kharghar tragedy and related issues. "We had taken adequate measures, but owing to the severe heat wave, people died," said an official. NCP chief Sharad Pawar has sought a judicial probe into the incident. CM Eknath Shinde has set up a panel headed by additional chief secretary (revenue) Nitin Karir to probe into the incident.