Gautam Buddh Nagar | March 16, 2026 — A key meeting to prepare an effective Heat Wave Action Plan for the district was held at the Collectorate auditorium under the chairmanship of the District Magistrate of Gautam Buddh Nagar.
The meeting focused on developing a coordinated strategy to protect residents from the potential impact of extreme heat during the upcoming summer months.
Heat Wave Plan to Be Finalised by March 20
The District Magistrate said that rising temperatures and rapid urbanisation in recent years have increased the occurrence of heat waves, posing serious risks to public health, particularly for labourers, elderly citizens, children and outdoor workers.
Officials were directed to finalise the City Heat Wave Action Plan by March 20, 2026 and submit it to the State Disaster Management Authority.
The plan will be prepared through coordination among various departments and will include support from up to three subject experts or reputed institutions for technical guidance.
Short-Term and Long-Term Strategies
The District Magistrate instructed officials to incorporate short-term, medium-term and long-term strategies into the plan.
Short-term measures will include:
Public awareness campaigns
Early weather warning systems
Drinking water facilities at public places
Cooling shelters and shaded rest areas
Preparedness of health departments
Activation of emergency medical services
Medium- and long-term measures will focus on environmental and urban planning initiatives such as:
Increasing green cover in urban areas
Developing Miyawaki forests
Reviving water bodies
Protecting parks and open spaces
Plantation of shade-giving trees
Measures to reduce the urban heat island effect
Health and Worker Safety Measures
The Health Department was directed to ensure the availability of essential medicines, ORS, medical staff, hospital beds and ambulance services in both government and private healthcare institutions during the heat wave period.
Special treatment protocols for heat stroke and heat-related illnesses will also be implemented.
The Labour Department and related agencies were instructed to raise awareness among workers at construction sites and industrial units and ensure adequate arrangements for drinking water, shade and rest at workplaces.
Measures to Prevent Disruption in Education
The District Magistrate also directed the Education Department to ensure that students’ studies are not adversely affected during school closures caused by heat waves, cold waves, AQI levels or other emergency conditions.
Schools were asked to adopt flexible academic planning to ensure that the syllabus is completed on time, while also prioritising student safety and health.
School managements were advised to provide drinking water, shaded areas and basic medical facilities on school campuses and to educate students about precautions against heat waves.
Data Submission and Expert Support
All departments were instructed to submit details of their preparedness along with photographs within seven days via email to the district administration.
Officials informed the meeting that a four-member expert team has been formed to prepare the district’s City Heat Wave Action Plan.
The team includes:
Prof. Meenakshi Lohani, Geography Department, Kumari Mayawati Government Girls PG College, Badalpur
Dr. Har Mohan Singh, Assistant Professor (Physics and Environmental Science), Sharda University
Dr. Sushil Kumar, Assistant Professor, Gautam Buddha University
Dr. Rajneesh Ranjan, Disaster Management Consultant
Assistant Scientist Amit Agarwal from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Meerut, also attended the meeting and shared important suggestions based on meteorological data.
DM Expresses Concern Over Absence of Development Authorities
During the meeting, the District Magistrate expressed strong dissatisfaction over the absence of officials from development authorities, stressing the importance of coordinated departmental participation in preparing the action plan.
Senior officials present included Additional District Magistrate (Finance and Revenue) Atul Kumar, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Narendra Kumar, District Development Officer Shiv Pratap Parmesh, Sub-Divisional Magistrate Dadri Anuj Nehra, Deputy Collector Charul Yadav, and other district-level officers.
