Chandigarh, June 8: In response to rising temperatures and the increasing threat of heatwaves, various NGOs and social and religious organizations in Punjab have collaborated to create a network of community cooling zones and shelters. These initiatives aim to provide relief for daily wage laborers, travelers, and the general public affected by extreme heat.
Launched with the coordination of local authorities, this initiative involves organizations such as Saanjh Punjab, Eco Seva, the Central Sikh Assembly, and Gurudwara Sahib in Patiala. The goal is to establish accessible locations where individuals can find comfort, coolness, drinking water, and temporary relief from the sweltering heat.
Organizers hope this model will encourage greater collaboration among communities, religious institutions, civil society organizations, and government agencies to enhance resilience against extreme heat.
As part of this initiative, the Amritsar Municipal Corporation, Eco Seva, and Saanjh Punjab jointly inaugurated a heat shelter at Sadar Chowk in Amritsar. The shelter, opened by Health Medical Officer Yogesh Arora, features an eco-friendly bamboo structure that provides shade for pedestrians and passersby.
The Jagdev Kalan village panchayat in Amritsar district has also established a heat shelter. Attendees from Eco Seva included Nidhi Sindhwani, Meenakshi Khanna, Riddhi Khanna, Smriti Kapoor, Manik Chhina, Jasmine Gill, Harveen, and Deepti Khanna.
Additional cooling and resting areas have been set up at the Central Guru Singh Sabha office in Sector 28, Chandigarh. These facilities offer shaded seating and drinking water for staff, visitors, and the general public.
Similar spaces have been created at Gurudwara Parmeshwar Dwar in Sheikhupur, Patiala, with plans to establish more cooling areas in Patiala and Amritsar in the coming weeks.
A civic network of individuals and organizations working on agriculture, climate change, and environmental sustainability, Saanjh Punjab is promoting collaboration among the involved community groups and institutions.
Gurpreet Singh from the Central Guru Singh Sabha emphasized the Sikh tradition of ‘seva’ (service) and caring for humanity. He noted that as heat intensity increases, providing drinking water, shade, and resting spaces is a practical way to protect people’s health and dignity.
Nidhi Sindhwani from Eco Seva echoed this sentiment, stating that environmental initiatives should directly benefit people. She explained that heat shelters, tree planting, and public cooling zones are simple measures that can make cities more livable and help communities adapt to rising temperatures.
Gurpreet Kaur from Clean Air Punjab highlighted that extreme heat is one of the most serious climate risks facing people in Punjab. She stated that community cooling zones are a low-cost yet effective solution to reduce heat stress and protect vulnerable populations.
Leave a Comment