Cops to ‘enjoy’ heat action plan in monsoon

The Gujarat traffic police have to wait till monsoon to enjoy the facilities under the new heat action plan designed to save them from intense heat wave. The plan has run into rough weather due to the Lok Sabha elections.

“We have several heat action plans in the pipeline. But due to elections we might have to wait till monsoon to get clearance from the government,” said additional commissioner of police (traffic), Harikrishna Patel. If the proposals are sent for approval after the polls the traffic cops can enjoy the

benefits of the plan only by August as it normally takes 90 days to get the tenders sanctioned from the government, the officer said. When a traffic cop, Akhilesh Patel, was informed about delay, he rued and said: “During summer, most of the traffic cops suffer from dehydration when the mercury rises up to 46 degrees. It becomes impossible for us to stand under the sun for eight hours without shade.”

“Last year, I suffered from heat stroke while on duty because of the extreme temperatures. The traffic booths are broken. Even if we want to take rest during low traffic time, we can’t stand there,” said Manan Bhatt, a traffic police from Surat, Regarding the project, Patel said that about Rs29 lakh have been invested in making special clothes which will protect the cops from heat. “These clothes will have small fans inside which will keep them cool,” he added.

Beside this, an innovative cotton jacket will be provided to the cops which will have solar flexible plates. “The plates will reflect back the sun rays hence save the cops from radiation,” said Patel.

When asked about lack of basic amenities like drinking water, he said: “Next year, we have a plan to install around 90 police booths with water coolers to save cops from dehydration.”

Besides, the state police plans to initiate four oxygen booths in the most polluted areas in the city. “As traffic cops are exposed to pollutants for long durations, they develop respiratory problems. To curb this, these booths will have oxygen inhaling facility which will improve their breathing capacity,” the officer said.

However, this month 90 Trainer to Trainee (TOT) would be trained who would teach traffic cops the methods to deal with heat wave and to take precautions, informed Rajdeepsinh Jhala, newly-appointed assistant commissioner of police (ACP), traffic. The police department also plans to join hands with the National Institute of Occupational Health, to conduct a thorough medical check-up of all the traffic cops, said Dr KR Shah of the police welfare hospital.