City's Heat Action Plan: Whitewashing rooftops to reduce heat, raising awareness

Time of India

22-05-2025

Prayagraj: To combat the intensifying heatwave, the Prayagraj Municipal Corporation is speeding up its "Heat Action Plan" to apply white paint or lime on rooftops in slum areas, which is expected to reduce indoor temperatures by 3-4 degrees Celsius.
Additionally, Public Address Systems will broadcast radio jingles and video messages at major intersections to educate the public about heatwave safety measures. An 18-member committee, led by municipal commissioner Seelam Sai Teja, has been formed to oversee the implementation, comprising representatives from various departments, including health, education and emergency services, as well as NGOs and other stakeholders.
A workshop at the Smart City auditorium, led by additional municipal commissioner Deependra Yadav, emphasised the collaborative efforts between the Uttar Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (UPSDMA), the Indian Institute of Public Health (IIPH) Gandhinagar, and the municipal corporation. Experts from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Atul Kumar Mishra and Akash Mishra, noted that Prayagraj has experienced record-breaking temperatures in recent years, including a peak of 45.4 degrees Celsius in May 2025 and a scorching 48.8 degrees Celsius last year.
Speaking at the workshop, Kaniz Fatima, project director (drought management), UPSDMA, emphasised that the state govt is actively executing the state heat action plan across all districts. The efforts have also been lauded by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Govt of India, which recommended the expansion of such plans to major cities like Jhansi, Agra, Prayagraj and Lucknow.
PMC authorities have decided to implement a comprehensive action plan to combat the rising threat of heatwaves in the city.
Key components of the plan include broadcasting audio messages through public address systems to raise awareness about heatwave precautions. In slum areas, rooftops will be whitewashed to reduce indoor temperatures. Additionally, the civic body will set up drinking water stations and shaded rest areas in public locations.
The plan also emphasises the promotion of green belts and ensuring easy access to drinking water and Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) to help residents stay safe during extreme heat conditions.
"We have decided to undertake several steps to protect the denizens from the heatwave, especially those living in the slums and with limited resources to protect themselves from the scorching heat," said Teja.
Painting rooftops with a mixture of lime (chuna) and fevicol. Lime, known for its high solar reflectance, bounces off the sun's harsh rays, keeping roof surfaces cooler.