Drink traditional this summer (Thinkstock photos/Getty Images)

Vijayawada: Worried that 2015 would repeat in AP which witnessed over 2,000 deaths due to intense heat wave, the state government on Monday decided to gear up the official machinery to tackle any emergency arising out of heat wave sweeping the 13 districts of the state.

The cabinet under the chairmanship of CM Chandrababu Naidu met here on Monday and resolved to create a contingency fund of Rs 39 crore to extend relief measures to the vulnerable sections by way of distributing buttermilk and ORS sachets to prevent sunstroke deaths.

The chief minister later told the media that each district collector will be provided with Rs 3 crore to take necessary measures to prevent loss of human life owing to rising temperatures. The government has also decided to set apart Rs 200 crore for augmentation of drinking water supply in rural areas and Rs 25 crore for the same purpose in urban areas. Committees, comprising leaders from the TDP, ministers and ministers-in-charge of the respective districts, will monitor these mitigation measures.

Naidu said the temperatures are soaring particularly in the Rayalaseema region this time. Quoting official data, he said the mercury is hovering around 46-48 degree Celsius and it is expected to go up further in the coming days.

He evaded a question whether government would pay ex gratia to the families of sunstroke victims. "Our aim is to prevent deaths and that compensation will come next," he said.

The cabinet has also decided to supply water by operating tankers from private and public services to 563 villages. The government transported water by different means to 4,000 villages last year. The defunct borewells and handpumps will be repaired and made functional. The cabinet has also proposed to restore defunct lift schemes at a cost of Rs 450 crore. The government decided to increase the number of jobless workers engaged under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme from 13 lakh to 20 lakh.

Besides, directives have been issued to the district authorities entrusted with the execution of the NREGS to engage workers in the morning and evening sessions to give them relief from scorching sun in the noon. Water distribution centres will be set up at work and public places, a minister added.

