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CONTENT
I. Introduction.......................................................................................3
II. City Profile and Vulnerability profile.............................................4
III. Causative factors for local climate variability &
Thermal Stress impact......................................................................5
IV. Heat Action Plan for City..............................................................6-7
V. Stakeholders to be part of plan implementation............................8
VI. What not to do during heat waves and Emergency kit..............8-9
VII. Long term Mitigation initiatives....................................................10
VIII. Core interventions for adaptation and resilience mechanism.10-11
IX. Organization Structure – Response Mechanism .........................11
X. Conclusion.........................................................................................12
HEAT MITIGATION ACTION PLAN FOR VIJAYAWADA CITY
ANDHRA PRADESH Vijayawada Municipal Corporation
I. Introduction:
The hydro‐meteorological hazards have enormous impacts on socio‐economic systems reflecting floods, cloud burst, storms, extreme temperature and heat waves which endangering human lives, disrupt livelihood systems, and derail the process of social and economic development. Climate variability and climate change may also compound the severity of risks in the cities, as it is expected to alter the frequency and complexity of climate hazards. Due to population growth and city expansion, the local administration is facing uphill task to meet basic urban infrastructural needs to address basic urban infrastructure issues. In the scientific study, it is revealed that global mean temperature has been increasing over land & ocean, causing climate variability and impacting nations in the form of disasters. In recent decades, it is observed that, the state of Andhra Pradesh is experiencing climate variability such as high temperature during summer and extending summer months in general and particular in the coastal pockets and cities and also increasing more drought prone blocks in the fold of drought prone areas or experiencing untimely precipitation and flash rains affecting lives and livelihood of poor and vulnerable population. The climate impact gases CO2, Methane and CFC has been increased enormously in the ambient air in the cities particularly in Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam.
For the last two decades, It is observed that the Vijayawada city temperature has been increasing, there were thousands of people lost their lives in summer months due to extremity of temperature in summer in the State and Country. During the year 2013, one of the most affected states, viz.., Andhra Pradesh where in reported 542 [official record]fatalities as the temperature hovered above 45°C across the state in 2013. However, heat waves that have claimed 1,300 lives (deaths directly attributed to sun stroke in official records) between 1998 and 2012 which are yet to be recognised as a natural calamity by Govt of India. The common symptoms observed due to heat waves and extreme temperature such as increase body temperature, head ache, dizziness, fatigue, rapid heartbeat, absence of sweating, fluctuating blood pressure and irritability etc. Further, due to impact of climate change, it is recorded that, there is
increase in frequency of temperature, risk of water borne diseases and increase the frequency of cyclone, storms and floods. It is evident that, heat stroke is most severe of all head related illness and head stroke could be life threatening. The extreme temperature is due to change of Land‐use pattern have led to changes in the amount of sunlight reflected from the ground.
The scale of these changes to be due to global
climate and due to increase in emissions of greenhouse gases, climate change impacting the Vijayawada city due to developmental projects and other operations such as clearing green cover, mining operations in the surrounding pockets, vehicle emissions, and industries [emissions from Vijayawada Super Thermal Power Station] are further
causing fuel to the extreme climatic variation in the ambient temperature, causing devastating impact on the lives and livelihoods of urban population. [Fig.2]
II.City Profile:
Vijayawada city is the second largest city in Andhra Pradesh with an area of 61.86 sq.km and population of more than 11 Lakhs. It has a population density of 16, 518 person/ sq km [2011 censes] with an annual population growth of 17.2% against the national average of 10.93%. The city constitutes about 3.91% of the total urban population of the state. The city being the transport junction connecting north and south India thrives on commercial activities. Vijayawada city along with the contiguous urban areas in its outskirt forms the 34th largest urban agglomeration in the county. Being located on the east coast of India about 70 km from the Bay of Bengal is highly influence by the monsoonal activities on the sub continent. The city receives rainfall from both southwest and northeast monsoon and has a marked high temperature in summer. The city experience cyclonic winds (particularly during Sept‐Nov months) and floods during northeast monsoon and heat waves during summer (April‐May). The city experienced an average temperature of 27oC with high temperature peaking at around 46oC in the month of May over the past several years. The city vegetation/tree cover is very less [<2%] in urban and a little betterment in peri‐urban areas.
Table 3: Land use pattern and spatial growth
Sno. Land use Within City
Area % 1 Residential 33.30 53.82 2 Commercial 2.73 4.42 3 Industrial 1.51 2.44 4 Institutional 4.05 6.55 5 Recreational 1.76 2.86 6 Transport 7.99 12.93
7 Water bodies 7.17 11.59
8 Hills 3.33 5.39 61.8 100
City Vulnerability:
The severe heat waves experienced in recent times had shifted from the interior parts of Andhra Pradesh to coastal areas. It is observed in 2013, 2014 and 2015 have been recorded death toll due to heat waves in the coastal districts in summer months, as this trends continuing in 2015 wherein as of 28thMay’2015 more than 2000 deaths have been reported as most of the death cases from coastal districts of Prakasam, Vizag, Nellore and Krishna district. The death tolls have been continuing due to prevailing extreme temperature which may likely to last till first week of June’15. The highest temperature has been recorded in the Vijayawada city at Gannavaram is 47.4 degrees twice during last week of May’15, it is evident that the local variability factors may also cascading impact on the city climate. It is also observed that the climate variability and climate change impact is experiencing in the form of temperature, heat waves, drought, precipitation and epidemics etc. It is known fact that there is no control on the parameters of global phenomena, but can reduce the impact of extreme weather conditions by adaptations practices and other mitigation measures at local level in the city to safe guard lives and livelihoods of the city population.
The increase in the usage of vehicles has led to consistent rise in air pollution levels, affecting environment in the city. The dangerous gases emitted by vehicles like Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Benzyne and Nitrogen Oxides (NOX) are the prime cause of pollution, Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board records, the air quality monitoring system installed on the Bandar Road showed that the PM 10 (particulate matter), which is the unit of measuring air pollution, was recorded at 75 mg per cum in the city as against the standard of 60 mg per cum. Similarly, the PM 2.5 value should not exceed 30 micro gram per cum, but it was recorded as 51 mg per cum. The increasing concentration of the matter in the air has a significant impact on environment and local biodiversity. The exceeding limits of these particulates in the air may lead
Year Transport vehicles Number
Non‐transport vehicles Number
Percentage of increase
2013 89951 465042 15%
2014 94213 499942 15%
2015 ? ? 20‐25%
to severe health hazards and also affect the environment. Note: Department of Transport is taking precaution to check pollution level of vehicles with existing 25 units in the city.
Need Heat Mitigation Plan for City;
Climate change and climate variability impact on the Krishna district in general and Vijayawada city in particular that impacting on city dwellers periodically making the city inhabitable particularly in summer months. In this connection, there is need to sensitize and prepare the city population during climate extremity conditions in summer months. VMC has prepared an Heat Mitigation Action plan to mitigate and adaptation by public to overcome heat stress and heat waves impact various actions and initiatives and facilitate preparedness of city functionaries by involving all key stakeholders in the city. The city critical weather index as;
Average temperature: 26ºC with temperature peaks to 46-48°C in summer Mean Annual Humidity: 78% Temperature reported in the city: 48°C (observed) in 2013, 47 in 2014 & 47.6 in 2015 Dense built up areas in the city <2% Less green cover in the city increase radiation isolation UV radiation impact in the ambient air [on scale:7.0]
III. Local factors cause climate variability in the Vijayawada city: The following factors which may cause increase ambient temperature and micro climate of city;
• Very less vegetation and lacking tree cover in the City • Extensive concrete buildings[heat island impact] • Emissions from Automobiles/vehicles – trap temperature • Emissions from Vijayawada Super Thermal Power Station • Mining operations in and around the city –no post closing mining operations • Emissions from the peri‐urban paddy fields/processing operations • Extensive concrete bunds and sand dunes reflecting re‐radiation with wind flow within
ambient environment • Huge track of open space, extensive road network and concrete belt • Very less recharge of rain water to the ground
In many studies on city climate, Scientist has been projected that Ultra violet radiations emissions level in ambient intensity has increased upto 7.0 points [Max 12.0 points] could also have been caused heat intensity in the City and State in general, which has become dangerous for human being. The optimum range in the 0‐4 points, current season it is recorded 7.0 points in Vijayawada and more than that in rest of the districts
Thermal Stress impact on City dwellers:
Direct impacts on human health in terms thermal stresses, such as hypothermia, influenza, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, dehydration
Indirect impacts as higher temperatures may lead to higher levels of urban air pollution and humidity which may exacerbate pre‐existing respiratory, cardio‐vascular problems and allergies
Heat Island Effect” in urban areas Increased temperature may to increase the frequency and/ or the intensity of forest and rangeland fires increasing exposure to resulting smoke and particulate matter
Epidemics – increase incidents of malaria, dengue, chicken gunea and filarial An increase of 1 degree celsius temperature resulting increase amount of moisture by 7% Increased health and safety risks during extreme temperature Water supply shortage and contamination Increased vectors for disease and respiratory illness Damage to infrastructure [power supply, water supply and sewerage]
IV. Action Plan for Heat Mitigation for Vijayawada city The World Meteorological Organization, however, defines a “heat wave as five or more consecutive
days during which the daily maximum temperature exceeds the average maximum temperature by five degrees Celsius” The historical data analysis shows an increasing trend in observed maximum temperature and minimum temperature in the city. The recent heat wave affected Andhra Pradesh and the Vijayawada city in particular. The city has recorded highest temperature in the range of 46°‐ 48°C during the season. The heat waves not only affect the people with high temperature but also caused fire in transformers and thatched huts and damage to infrastructure. In the month of May 2015, first two weeks normal temperature was recorded in the city later‐on deadly temperature [45‐48 degrees] with heat waves that hit the Vijayawada city population and city dwellers and Krishna district in general [due to influencing factor of North and north western winds] where in peak temperatures that have been caused a spike in reported heat‐related illness and death in and around the city. This extremity of weather has been caused severe impact on city dwellers and commuters in the city, many deaths reported in and around the city and district due to the impact.
Earlier in years of 2012, 2013 and 2014 also heat waves that have‐caused mortality reported
hundreds of deaths due to extreme ambient temperature. In 2014 & 2015, the Indian Meteorological Department, Govt of India has been issued RED ALERT MESSAGE in advance on high temperature and heat waves record repeatedly to public through media by alerting the States and District administration to disseminate the information for preparedness and precautions to safeguarding the public.
The climate change analysis study in 2014 shows that the maximum day‐time temperature in the city of Vijayawada during the hot summer months (March‐June) is likely to rise by about 1.25°C and about 2.50°C respectively around the middle and end of this century. The rise in night time minimum temperature could increase by 1.50°C and 2.80°C respectively by the middle and end of this century. The city experiences high temperature during summer months (April‐May) some time lead to heat waves in the city. It is confirmed by experts that Climate change is fuelling more intense and frequent high temperature and heat waves in the State of Andhra Pradesh for the last two decades particularly coastal districts, a new scale of coordinated action is essential to protect the public, communities, infrastructure especially the most vulnerable population viz., children, age old, women and sick people, from the dangerous health effects of extreme heat and heat waves. Considering an emergency and prevailing extremity conditions in the Vijayawada city, the draft action plan for heat stress mitigation and adaptations is prepared with direction of the Executive Authority, VMC. The strategies and action to be discussed before rollout of the heat mitigation action plan in the city.
Further, the draft plan is prepared by taking reference of expert recommendations and heat action plan of
Ahmadabad City, Gujarat State, where in City has prepared heat/heat wave break action plan first time in South Asia and has been implementing since 2011. The following key intervention can be adapted during pre summer months, during and post summer months in view of high temperature & heat waves situations in the city. The heat action plan shall be implemented in nine months [January to September] in three phases as given below.
1. Preparation phase [January to March] 2. Alert phase [April to June] 3. Evaluation phase [July to September]
Prior to Heat /Heat waves phase
Intervention Partnership/facilitation Sensitization to SHG/Women on heat impact and health hazard
UCD & Health Dept, VMC
Workshop to all key stakeholders [volunteers/NGOs/Trust/NYK/City federation leaders] on prevention and precaution of Heat break/overcome heat stress
VMC DM Unit
Sensitization to Urban Health Centre Dist Health/City Health Dept
paramedical teamPreparation of Dos and DON’T and distribution through system
VMC/DM Project unit
Media engagement on dissemination of message
PRO VMC
Promotion of White wash on houses for reflection [by paint]
RWA/CBOs/Federations/NGOs
Promote green building technology [roof gardening, ceiling of rooms and energy efficiency building]
Planning Dept, VMC
During Heat period/ Emergency hour [Alert period]
Dissemination of heat wave alert through various systems
VMC
All city public and private parks kept open to public
VMC
Establishment of temporary sheds and shelters for public
VMC
Provision of Safe drinking water points with support of NGOs/Local philanthropist
Public Health Engineering
Continuous monitoring of daily reported illness and deaths in the city
Health Dept
Press release on alert system in the city as per the IMD reports
District/City administration
Establishment of temporary tents for public focusing children/orphans/ beggars
City/Div Administration
Supply of Water through Tanks in Emergency on call to 103
Public Health Engineering
Evacuation of people living on the roads, who expose to sun to safe shelters
VMD & Police Dept
Ensure access potable drinking water at Public places [bus and railway stations, prominent places /junctions in the city
VMC
Post Heat/ Heat waves Conditions [Evaluation phase]
Analysis of Daily recorded temperature during period
District /City administration DM Unit
Analysis of illness and deaths records in the city/semi urban areas
VMC with support of Health Dept
Assess the primary/secondary reasons for deaths
Health Department
Orientation to Health staff on key learning and fall outs during heat wave period/summer season
VMC Engineering and Health Unit
Promote green cover in all vacant places and streets
With support of Forest department under urban forestry unit
V. Stakeholders: • VMC [Engineering, Public Health, Planning, Urban Community Development & Education ] • Revenue Department • DMHO [104 &108] • Police Department • Rural Water Supply • Integrated Child Development Society • Education Institutions [Public and Private players] • Industries • Labor department • Pollution Control Board • Transport Department • Forest Department • Bus and Railway Stations • Vijayawada Thermal Power Station [APGENCO] • AP Tourism Department • Social Welfare Department • NGOs and Corporates • Print Media [district and city based] • Commercial establishments • National Highway Authority of India • MP/MLA/MLC/Urban Local Bodies
What not to do during High temperature and Heat Wave
• Do not go out in the direct sun [from 11AM to 4PM] • Avoid extensive physical activity [work under direct exposure of sun] • Do not send children or pets out in the sun or leave them in closed vehicles. • Do not consume caffeinated drinks (like aerated drinks) and alcohol during extreme heat • Avoid wearing dark, heavy or tight clothing • Avoid cooking during peak heat hours. If you must cook, open doors and windows to ventilate the cooking area
adequately. • Avoid drinking cool water immediately after back from outdoor
Emergency Kit (Carry with you) as expert recommendations;
• Water bottle • Umbrella/ Hat or Cap / Head Cover • Hand Towel • Electrolyte / Glucose / Oral Rehydration pack • Repeated face wash with cool water • First aid kit [emergency medicines]
Recover and Build (If you think someone is suffering from the heat): • Move the person to a cool place under the shade • Give water or a rehydrating drink (if the person is still conscious) • Fan the person • Consult a doctor if symptoms get worse or are long lasting or the person is unconscious • Do not give caffeine or aerated drink • Cool the person by putting a cool wet cloth on his/her face/body • Loosen clothes for better ventilation • Do not leave the children to play in the hot conditions
Initiatives already taken up by VMC :
• Mass awareness camps from 2013 focusing SHG members in the city with support of UCD • Training to all Slum Federation Leaders and SHGs with support of UCD project unit, • Distribution of ORS pockets to Sanitary workers in the divisions by Health wing • Reschedule of working hours for municipal workers by Health wing • Alerting key stakeholders on high temperature through SMS system focus Staff, IRS trained officers,
Corporators and NGOs]by EOC • Prepared pamphlets on heat wave/high temp DO & DON’T and ensured availability of pamphlets in all Urban
Health Centers by DM Unit with Health Wing • Distributed Pamphlets to city based NGOs for dissemination the information • Posted Pamphlets in Web portal for access to public [10000 units]
• With support of VMC established 20 ‘Chalivendra’ by Police department
VII.Long term Mitigation initiatives:
In many developed nations and cities people and communities are taking action to reduce urban heat islands using four main strategies:
1) To increase tree and vegetative cover; Trees, vegetation, and green roofs can reduce heating and cooling energy use and associated air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, remove air pollutants, sequester and store carbon, help lower the risk of heat‐related illnesses and deaths, improve storm water control and water quality, reduce noise levels, create habitats, improve aesthetic qualities, and increase property values.
2) To installing green roofs (rooftop gardens or "eco-roofs") ; Cool roofs can lower cooling energy use, peak electricity demand, air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, heat‐related incidents, and solid waste generation due to less frequent re‐roofing.
3) To installing cool—mainly reflective—roofs ; with white paints/solutions on roof top 4) To using cool pavements; Cool pavements can indirectly help reduce energy consumption, air pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. Depending on the technology used, cool pavements can improve storm water management and water quality, increase surface durability, enhance night time illumination, and reduce noise
The strategies and activities that city dwellers and communities can be explored are; the extent to which urban areas can benefit from heat island reduction strategies depends on a number of factors—some within and some outside of a community's control. Although prevailing weather patterns, climate, geography, and topography are beyond the influence of local policy, decision makers can select a range of energy‐saving strategies that will generate multiple benefits, including vegetation, landscaping, and land use design projects, and improvements to building and road materials.
VIII. Core Initiatives for adaption and resilience mechanism:
City ecology to be protected with appropriate principles focusing urban and peri‐urban areas [land use planning, Trees and vegetation cover, recharge of ground water, solid waste management and treatment of industrial waste and reduction of emissions etc]
Special focus on hillocks and canal bunds to be fully covered with vegetation in the city – help in absorption of heat and reduce reflection
All Government institutions/Education institutions/Private bodies and Corporate shall encourage to raise gardening/canopy plantation in their premises
Ensure all the private and public parks to be thickly planted with rising canopy Every household is encouraged to raise plantation in their premises [with enforcement] Encourage green building and energy efficient buildings [new construction and apartments] Encourage roof top garden in all existing buildings and encourage to raise creeper variety
Each and every household/building/structure should have rain water harvesting pits/recharge pit [with enforcement]
Not allow the rag‐picks / beggars/orphans and saints living on the roads/platforms[erection of fencing in all the public and prominent places including bus shelters in the city[many of culprits are under the category]
Outdated/emission vehicles to be removed in phased manner Regular education on climate extreme impact in all schools/colleges and how to safe guard one and all in
prayer meeting Energy efficient systems in usage of Coolers, Air Conditioners and refrigeration units in the cities which may
result reduction of emissions from this units Open Mining operations to be tracked and appropriate mitigation and resilience plan to be adopted Health camps in all the divisions[ preventive medicine to be distributed] Swachh Bharat Mission Officers in the city, can be put to task and monitor throughout the year of initiatives in
coordination with local corporators, NGOs, volunteers and institutions etc
IX. Organization Structure:
Vijayawada Municipal Corporation Heat Mitigation Operational Structure
COMMISSIONER[CDMA]
NODAL OFFICER
Logistics Section [CP/CMOH]
Operations Section [EE] Coordination
with Line Depts/Agencies
Planning Section
[EE /CP]
Liaoning Officer [ACG]
Safety Officer [RFO] FIRE WING
Information Officer [AC‐P] Sending FAX
SDMA
EOC
DDMA
IMD
NGOs / Volunteer
Print Media
Transport Dept
Social Welfare
EducationDept
Health Dept
Parks/ Gardens
Emergency Operating Centre [EOC] at VMC:
The Information centre to aim for an effective and realistic City Heat Mitigation Plan with full proof communication, coordination and accurate database in order to make optimal utilization of Men, Material and Resources to prevent, preparedness and implementation of plan for minimize the loss to lives as well as property and ensuring fastest restoration of the situations. Emergency Operation Center under the control of Nodal Officer works with directions from the Municipal Commissioner, which will be operational round the clock and the following activities;
To plan, monitor, implementation and coordination of the Heat Mitigation actions/activities for effective disaster responses [Pre phase, During Phase and Post Phase of heat waves]
Nodal Officer shall initiate Preventive action plan before onset of Heat period [January to March] and Establish effective coordination with key stakeholders[During High temperature and heat waves[April to June] and Evaluation of Plan in the post summer season[July to September]
In a disaster phase, the EOC will be operate under the central authority of Nodal Officer/MC exercising emergency power to issue directives to all the concerned departments to provide emergency response services
EOC shall track the information/alert message from Indian Meteorological Department, NDMA, SDMA and DDMA and disseminate through various media to key stakeholders and other line departments
EOC will coordinate with city line departments, NGOs and Urban Local Bodies etc EOC will be manned round the clock for emergency responses EOC will be placed in the Emergency sector of the VMC
The person in charge of the EOC shall be personally responsible for implementation of the Standard Operating Procedure [SOP] for Heat Mitigation Action Plan during the period [January to September]. He shall be responsible to take all important decisions, coordination, communication and review of the plan from time to time with the direction of Municipal Commissioner. The emergency communication system will be operational round the clock by VMC through:
Established bulk SMS system 103 operational round the clock to access to public Emergency information to stakeholders through FAX Print Media/FM/Posters/Pamphlets Coordination and consultation centre in the three circle offices [deputing special officers] Periodical Information updation in the VMC web portal and Exclusive Disaster Web portal Establishment of Emergency Medical team to task in the city Establishment Coordination mechanism with Revenue, Health, Education, RWS & Welfare
X. Conclusion: Every year many Indian cities have been experiencing high temperature and severe heat waves in
summer months, but in the year 2015, it is felt that casualties were abnormally high. Most of the deaths were concentrated in the coastal pockets and drought prone areas in state of Andhra Pradesh. This weather pattern, coupled with the El Niño effect, which often increases ambient temperatures in the city of Vijayawada in urban and peri‐urban areas. The state governments may not be able to exercise great control over CO2 emissions and other causative factors but they can take better care of their citizens with appropriate heat mitigation action plan. Further the government cannot force people to stay in their homes, but it can and should ensure safe working conditions with precaution and preventive measures. VMC Heat Mitigation Action Plan has set of capacities to generate and disseminate timely and meaningful warning information to enable its cities viz., individual, communities and organizations that threatened by a heat hazard to prepare and to act appropriate mitigation and adaption measures to overcome the heat climate extremity impact on city residents. This action plan would be implemented with support of citizens and key stakeholders in the divisions in Vijayawada city
Commissioner, Vijayawada Municipal Corporation