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Cool roofs, water ATMs, and heatwave wards: Delhi Govt rolls out Heat Action Plan 2025

The plan was launched by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, along with Minister Parvesh Verma, and National Disaster Management Authority chief Rajendra Singh, at the Secretariat.

Delhi has already registered its first heatwave this summer — from April 7 to 9 — as temperatures crossed 40 degree Celsius. ( Express Photo )

Cooling roofs and shaded structures along footpaths for pedestrians, 3,000 water coolers and water ATMs along roads, heat alerts in real-time, green roofs at bus stops, and special wards for heatstroke patients at all hospitals – these are some of the features of the Delhi Heat Action Plan 2025 launched by the BJP government on Monday.

With Delhi already registering its first heatwave this summer – from April 7 to 9 – when the temperature crossed 40 degree Celsius, and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting a higher-than-usual number of heatwave days this year, the Heat Action Plan prepared at the state, district, and city levels is aimed at mitigating the adverse impacts of extreme weather, said officials.

The plan was launched by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, along with Minister Parvesh Verma, and National Disaster Management Authority chief Rajendra Singh, at the Secretariat.

Gupta said, “If Delhi is experiencing the most heat in India, then preparations should also be the most extensive here. We have had a detailed discussion about this in our Cabinet meeting. We will install 3,000 water coolers, and cooling shelters should be available on roads. Footpaths should have shades. Green roofs are also a great solution. We will issue heat alerts in collaboration with the weather department. Big hospitals will have heatwave wards with trained staff.”

Alleging that the previous AAP government did not recruit Disaster Mitras (trained volunteers), she said, “The Prime Minister had prepared a large army of Disaster Mitras. The previous government didn’t recruit 1,800 Disaster Mitras, but we need them to deal with disasters. We have received them from the Centre.”

The CM also virtually inaugurated three cool roof pilot projects at Kashmere Gate, Anand Vihar and Delhi Secretariat. The number of such projects will be increased soon, she added.

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