HC asks UP to come up with action plan for tackling heat wave

The Allahabad High Court today asked the Uttar Pradesh government to come up with an action plan for tackling the problem of heat wave in the state in accordance with guidelines issued by the National Disaster Management Authority.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice D B Bhosle and Justice Yashwant Verma, while passing the order, directed the Principal Secretary concerned to appear in person on the next date of hearing on April 20 and apprise the court of action taken with regard to implementation of the aforesaid guidelines.
The order came on a PIL filed by Allahabad resident Akshay Mohiley, who had submitted that though the summer season had begun, the state government was yet to take any effective action with regard to tackling heat wave, which claims many lives every year.

It was contended by the state government's counsel that "necessary directions have been issued to the officials concerned and a fund of Rs 500 crore created for prevention and management of heat wave conditions".
However, to his request for "two months' time for preparing an action plan", the court shot back "summers have started and if the government will take two months to prepare an action plan, many people will die due to heat wave".
The court remarked "it seems officers have merely issued directions in a routine manner" and directed the Principal Secretary concerned to remain present on the next date of hearing.