Divide workers into two groups in hot areas, give 1-2 hours’ rest, says Revenue Minister amid heatwave conditions in Telangana

Telangana officials implement measures to protect workers from heatwave conditions, including rest rotations and medical resources.

Amidst the sweltering heatwave conditions in Telangana, Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy directed Industries and Commerce department officials to instruct companies to adopt a rotation system by dividing workers — working in hot areas — into two units and giving them one or two hours of rest. 

The State Labour department was directed to focus on providing medical resources such as ORS, drinking water, shelter and rest to solid waste management workers. 

The instructions were given at a meeting held on Friday, May 2, 2025, chaired by the Revenue Minister with officials from 12 departments on the heatwave conditions in the State, preparations to be taken, Heatwave Action Plan (HAP)-2025, ex gratia for heatwave deaths and other aspects.

Over a week ago,  Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that the Ministry has written to Chief Secretaries and administrators on the need to issue directions to employers, construction companies, and industries to put in place necessary steps to mitigate the adverse effects of extreme heatwave conditions on workers. Besides, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Thursday asked 11 States, including Telangana, to take immediate pre-emptive measures to protect vulnerable people, especially those from poorer communities.

The Revenue Minister said that 588 of the 612 mandals in Telangana were classified as heatwave-affected mandals. The government has declared heatwaves, sunstrokes and sunburns as a ‘State-Specific Disaster’. It has also enhanced the ex gratia provided to families of heatwave victims from ₹50,000 to ₹4 lakh.

Officials from the Health department were asked to focus on conducting fire safety audit at hospitals, providing ORS packets at health facilities, disseminating information among people about precautions to be taken when experiencing high temperatures and other aspects.