
3K water ATMs, cooling shelters, ‘Aapda Mitras'
New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister, Heat Action Plan, Rekha Gupta, Water ATMs, Disaster Management, Summer Relief
Apart from involving 1,800 National and Delhi Disaster Response volunteers or 'Aapda Mitras', the plan talks of setting up shaded, cooling shelters, opening 3,000-4,000 large water RO units attached to boundary walls of Delhi government schools and office buildings to dispense cold water round-the-clock for five lakh citizens.
It also proposes setting up 3,000 water ATMs for the public on PWD roads -- near bus stops and traffic intersections.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the national capital's seasons are often associated with civic woes -- water shortage in summer, pollution in winter and waterlogging in monsoon -- but her government would ensure citizens can enjoy every season without trouble.
Repeating her government's commitment to offer relief to heat-struck people, CM Gupta said under the Heat Action Plan, 3000 water coolers or ATMs would be installed -- 1,000 on public roads, 1000 in government buildings and 1,000 in the rural belt. 'We will also seek help from private entities under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives,' she said.
The Chief Minister said the Delhi government will regularly issue heat alerts through SMS and social media for the public to take precautions.
Besides special heatwave wards in hospitals, Aapda Mitras will also be deputed for anti-heat actions in slums.
'Every life is precious for the nation and the city, and we are committed to saving it,' she said, suggesting measures to help even animals.
Earlier, PWD Minister Parvesh Verma said the Delhi government is going to prove its commitment to public welfare through its actions and not just announcements.
He said the Delhi government has already launched GPS-linked water tankers to meet the summer crisis and initiated the introduction of new heat-resistant, cool roofs for government buildings, and the experiment will be expanded gradually.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Hindu
19 hours ago
- The Hindu
Delhi will not suffer in this monsoon as it did in 2023, says CM
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday said 15 monitoring stations, including a central control room, have been set up to observe the Yamuna river level and track waterlogging-prone areas, enabling timely action to prevent floods and waterlogging during the upcoming monsoon. Ms. Gupta made the announcement after chairing a meeting on flood control and issuing the 'Flood Control Order, 2025', which will serve as a manual to ensure synergy among all the government departments while tackling emergency situations during heavy rain. 'Every year, citizens of Delhi suffer due to the dual challenges of floods and waterlogging. In August-September 2023, the city experienced unprecedented floods when the Yamuna river rose to 208.6 meters, submerging many residential areas and resulting in loss of life and severe disruption. We will be prepared this year,' said the CM. She criticised the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, saying it did not take the work of flood control seriously. 'In 2023, the gates of the ITO barrage couldn't even be opened due to poor preparedness. In contrast, this year all major barrages have undergone large-scale repairs and maintenance, and nearly 20 lakh tonnes of silt has been removed from the major drains.' She added that 80-90% of the desilting works had been completed by the Public Works Department and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, and the remaining work is under way. Unseasonal rain last month led to several incidents of waterlogging, prompting the CM to take action against the officials concerned. Monsoon protocol As per Wednesday's order, sector committees have been created across the city. These will be headed by Cabinet Ministers Pravesh Sahib Singh, Ashish Sood, and Manjinder Singh Sirsa. Each panel will include three to four District Magistrates and will be responsible for flood management in its respective sector. The PWD and other departments concerned have been asked to ensure that all permanent pump houses remain functional. They have also been instructed to deploy mobile pumps wherever necessary to prevent waterlogging. The central flood control room will start operating on June 15 and has been established at the office of the District Magistrate (East). It will function as a coordination hub with representatives from all civic bodies stationed 24x7. A total of 15 wireless stations, including the central control room, will continuously monitor the water levels of the Yamuna and other vulnerable areas. In response to the CM's allegations, AAP said that the ITO barrage is maintained by the Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled Haryana government. 'In 2023, they [Haryana government] had to suspend their Chief Engineer for failing to maintain the barrage's gates. In 2024, the AAP government ensured that the Haryana government properly maintained the gates. The same was done in 2025.'


The Print
a day ago
- The Print
Hundreds left homeless in Delhi's searing heatwave as authorities raze Govindpuri slum
Among the many despondent residents was 45-year-old Satyawati, a domestic worker who was born and raised in the very camp now turned into rubble. The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) said that 344 jhuggi constructions, the majority of which were uninhabited, were demolished on its encroached land and that there was no stay by any court. New Delhi, Jun 11 (PTI) As bulldozers rolled in before dawn at the Bhoomiheen jhuggi-jhopri camp in south Delhi's Govindpuri on Wednesday, families scrambled to gather their meagre belongings in the dark. By the time the sun was up, hundreds were left homeless in the searing heatwave of the national capital. 'I was born here. My parents died here. I don't live with my husband, so I take care of my 16-year-old daughter and son alone,' she told PTI. 'We have been on the road since morning. We have not eaten. It's too hot still I have come to Tughlaqabad to see if I can find a room on rent,' said Satyawati, with exhaustion evident in her voice and on her face. Satyawati washed utensils in nearby bungalows for Rs 6,000–7,000 a month. But today, she is unsure how she will make it through even this week. 'We thought the demolition would start at 10 am or 11 am, but they came at 5 am. People were still asleep,' she said. The demolition drive comes as Delhi reels under a severe heatwave. The India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert, with temperatures touching 45.5 degrees Celsius in parts of the city. For the residents now out on the streets, the timing of DDA action has only added to their misery. 'We have nowhere to go,' said another woman resident, her belongings piled in plastic bags beside her. 'There were promises of Jahan Jhuggi Wahan Makaan, but we were never allotted any flat. Now we will have to live on the road,' she claimed. Most of the camp's residents are migrant workers from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. The DDA had issued notices to the residents on June 9, giving them three days to vacate. 'All residents of Bhoomiheen Camp, Kalkaji Extension, were informed as per court directions that illegal clusters would be demolished,' a notice had said. The area was cordoned off by police and paramilitary forces as the demolition began. 'We have deployed adequate force to ensure peaceful execution of the drive. No one will be allowed to breach law and order,' an official said. The Bhoomiheen Camp has faced multiple demolition drives — earlier in May and in July 2023. This latest action follows the dismissal of writ petitions by the Delhi High Court, according to the DDA. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, responding to criticism by the opposition, said the government could not override court orders. 'Displaced families are being provided accommodation,' she said on Sunday. However, many residents claimed that they have received no help so far. With the mercury rising, the displaced residents now face an even greater battle — surviving the streets in the grip of a deadly heatwave. PTI MHS SSM RT This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.


Time of India
7 days ago
- Time of India
Focus on ward weather stns, clean air zones, AC temp as Kol launches climate action plan
1 2 3 4 5 6 Kolkata: In a defining moment for the city's sustainability goals, mayor Firhad Hakim on Thursday unveiled final draft of Kolkata Climate Action Plan (KCAP), calling it "not just a climate action plan but a survival plan for the city and its future generation". Dedicating it to the citizens of Kolkata, the mayor stressed the urgency of its successful implementation to safeguard the city's future against the growing climate risks. KCAP recommended implementation of ward-wise hyper-local weather stations, and upgraded disaster shelters to improve resilience against extreme weather events like cyclones and floods. The plan also includes a hyper-local early warning system, clean air zones based on hyper-local ambient air quality monitoring, and climate-smart slums by redesigning slums with a lot of green spaces. Prepared through collaboration between global and local climate experts and advocacy groups such as EnGIO (Environment Governed Integrated Organisation) and CANSA (Climate Action Network South Asia), KCAP includes 60 sector-specific recommendations, of which 30 have been prioritised for urgent, evidence-based implementation. "This is a set of self-imposed obligations with strict deadlines we have to live by," said KMC commissioner Dhaval Jain, referring to the plan's time-bound rollout. "This is a climate plan that targets emission reduction, inclusivity, and evidence-backed interventions," said Sujata Basu of EnGIO. Sanjay Vashist of CANSA said the recommendations align with global best practices while addressing Kolkata's unique vulnerabilities. With climate challenges looming large, Kolkata's ambitious plan seeks not only to mitigate emissions but also adapt its infrastructure and communities to the realities of a warming world. The KCAP draft will be available on its dedicated website for stakeholders' deliberations for two months. It encompasses several transformative actions like Heat Action Plan (HAP). Recognising Kolkata's status as one of the world's most heat-vulnerable cities, the plan includes city-wide temperature, humidity monitoring, green infrastructure, shaded intersections, reflective roads, and "heat units" in hospitals. A formal K-HAP is proposed by 2026, with full implementation by 2030. Climate-smart slums are envisaged through pilot projects for solarisation, green spaces, and heat-resilient housing. Air conditioning control, a city-level AC temperature policy, is proposed to cap indoor temperatures at 22–24°C. Clean air zones & monitoring are planned to combat rising pollution. Urban mobility and decongestion will be planned with dedicated cycle tracks, no-vehicle streets, and pedestrian-friendly zones. Green infrastructure mapping will focus on mapping of trees, parks, and water bodies. Water management and decentralised waste processing have also been given priority.