Heat Wave SOPs Issued to Protect Vulnerable Groups The Maharashtra government has introduced three comprehensive standard operating procedures (SOPs) aimed at safeguarding vulnerable populations amid rising heatwave conditions. The guidelines, aligned with the State Heat Action Plan and color-coded alerts from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), focus on outdoor workers, coal mine laborers, and heat-resilient housing. These measures target 15 high-risk districts, including Nagpur, Chandrapur, Wardha, Yavatmal, Amravati, Akola, Buldhana, Washim, Gondia, Bhandara, Jalgaon, Nandurbar, Dhule, Nanded, and Latur. Disaster management minister Girish Mahajan emphasized that the SOPs are designed to mitigate heat-related illnesses and deaths, particularly among informal workers, mining laborers, and low-income communities. The initiative follows a recent incident in Kamptee, where a woman laborer died from suspected heatstroke after being found dehydrated when temperatures exceeded 40°C in March. The first SOP outlines safety protocols for outdoor workers such as street vendors, construction laborers, traffic police, sanitation staff, delivery personnel, and auto drivers. It mandates rescheduling work hours based on IMD color-coded warnings, along with mandatory water breaks, oral rehydration solution (ORS) distribution, shaded rest areas, and enhanced health support. The second SOP addresses heat stress management for coal mine workers in Chandrapur. It emphasizes the establishment of cooling centers, improved ventilation systems, job rotation schedules, hydration protocols, and training for identifying heat-related illnesses. Special provisions are included for women workers to ensure their safety.#nagpur #india_meteorological_department #maharashtra_government #chandrapur #girish_mahajan
VIDC Five-Work Cap on Contractors: Relaxation Proposal in Progress at Govt Level The state government confirmed that the Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation (VIDC) has imposed a restriction limiting contractors to a maximum of five simultaneous works. This policy, formalized through a VIDC circular dated March 5, 2019, prohibits a single contractor or joint venture consortium from holding more than five projects with the corporation at any given time. The Maharashtra Legislative Assembly was informed on Friday that a proposal to relax this ceiling is currently under consideration by the government. Water resources minister Girish Mahajan clarified that the restriction does not apply to other water resources corporations in the state. He stated that the matter was discussed with the chief minister and that VIDC had forwarded a proposal to the government for relaxing the five-work cap via a letter dated June 5, 2024. However, Mahajan did not provide details on whether the proposal had received approval from the finance department or specify a timeline for a final decision. Chimur MLA Bunty Bhangdiya raised the issue through a starred question, questioning whether the cap was exclusive to VIDC and whether it was disadvantaging local contractors. He alleged that the restriction was leading to outside contractors dominating development projects in Vidarbha. Mahajan acknowledged the concerns but emphasized that the proposal was still under review, with no official announcement on its status yet. The policy has sparked debate over its impact on local businesses and the efficiency of infrastructure projects in the region.#maharashtra_legislative_assembly #vidarbha_illumination_development_corporation #girish_mahajan #chimur_mla_bunty_bhangdiya #vidc_circular_march_5_2019
