The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Heat spell: Collectors asked to focus on poor

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Saturday, May 21, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Heat spell: Collectors asked to focus on poor

Special Correspondent

xxxx We are equipped to tackle any problem in 24 hours, says the Chief Secretary.

HYDERABAD: The Chief Secretary, Mohan Kanda, has asked district Collectors to take necessary steps in line with existing manuals to protect people from the heat wave sweeping the State with focus on vulnerable sections, especially children, the aged and the destitute.

Foremost among the steps specified by him were immediate spending of funds on drinking water supply wherever there is shortage, concentration on slums, ensuring first supply from tankers to those suffering from lack of access like the aged and the destitute, and campaigning on dos and don'ts to beat the heat through wall-posters and tom-toming.

Acute drought

Mr. Mohan Kanda interacted with the Collectors and health officials through a videoconference here on Friday. He told them that an acute drought situation was prevailing in the State and that they should be alert as the heat wave would continue for a few more days. He elicited information on the specific problem faced by each district and offered on-the-spot decisions.

Call to rope in NGOs

He asked the Collectors to utilise the services of voluntary organisations and different wings of the Panchayat Raj Department to set up water camps and in taking sunstroke victims to the nearest primary health centres. He was told that sufficient quantities of oral re-hydration salts and intravenous fluids were available at health centres.

The Chief Secretary told reporters later that the preparations by the Government to meet the exigency were such that the administration was in a position to solve a problem in 24 hours.

V. P. Jauhari, Special Chief Secretary, Revenue, I. V. Subba Rao, principal secretary, Health, Veena Ish, Secretary, Municipal Administration, and I. S. Srinaresh, additional commissioner, Disaster Management, were present.

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