Mumbai, April 13 (NationPress) The Maharashtra state government on Monday announced new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) aimed at safeguarding outdoor informal workers in urban districts vulnerable to extreme heat.

According to the advisory shared by the state’s disaster management minister, Girish Mahajan, it is recommended to adjust outdoor working hours to cooler times between 6 A.M. and 11 A.M. and from 4 P.M. to 8 P.M. during heat alerts. It is also emphasized that mandatory rest periods from 12 P.M. to 4 P.M. be enforced during orange and red alerts, particularly for those in construction, industrial, and vending sectors.

Moreover, it will be essential to issue official directives from local urban bodies mandating these schedule adjustments, particularly for construction, industrial, and vending activities.

To ensure workspace safety for women, adequate lighting, transportation, and protective resources will be provided. This SOP comes in response to the fact that Maharashtra is among the top 10 heat-vulnerable states and Union Territories in India.

The State Heat Action Plan identifies 15 districts across the regions of Vidarbha, Marathwada, and Khandesh that are particularly susceptible to extreme heat, including Latur, Amravati, Yavatmal, Washim, Akola, Buldhana, Nagpur, Wardha, Chandrapur, Gondia, Bhandara, Jalgaon, Nandurbar, Dhule, and Nanded.

This SOP is applicable to all municipal corporations, councils, and nagar panchayats operating in high-risk urban areas.

The guidelines also include the installation of water booths at key informal work locations such as markets, traffic junctions, and vending areas to guarantee access to water, complete with clear signage and regular refilling.

Additionally, the distribution of Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) and electrolyte sachets through primary health centers, ward offices, and NGOs will be necessary.

Parks and gardens will be kept open and accessible during the afternoon. Temporary shade will be constructed at vending spots, labor chowks, worker zones, and traffic junctions.

In terms of medical preparedness and surveillance, primary and urban health centers must be stocked with ORS, IV fluids, and heat illness treatment kits. Training for ASHAs and ward health workers on heat-related illnesses is crucial, as is the pre-positioning of 108 ambulances in high-risk areas and monitoring response times during critical days.

The SOP also encourages the creation of shaded public areas, tree planting, reflective surfaces, and misting systems in urban planning. Upgrading dense work zones with permanent shade, cool roofs, and water access is also part of the strategy, alongside incentivizing employers and market associations to implement cooling systems.

In parallel, the state government plans to establish a training and research center for disaster management in Nagpur with a budget of Rs 184 crore. This center will focus on providing training and conducting research related to extreme heat conditions and sustainable cooling solutions.