Amid the scorching heat across most of the plains in the country, Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena has made a significant decision. LG Saxena has ordered that workers will receive leave from work between 12 noon and 3 pm during this intense heat. Additionally, no one will be allowed to deduct their salary in exchange for this relief.

Delhi LG VK Saxena has instructed that workers must be given paid leave from 12-3 pm. Additionally, construction sites are required to provide ample water and coconut water for the workers. Instructions have also been issued to place water pitchers at bus stands.

Alongside issuing this directive on Tuesday, LG also criticized Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his ministers for their lack of action on the ‘Summer Heat Action Plan’. While DDA has been implementing it since May 20, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), Public Works Department (PWD), and Delhi Municipal Corporation (MCD) under the Aam Aadmi Party government have failed to take any action. Consequently, the Lieutenant Governor has instructed the Chief Secretary to convene an urgent meeting on this matter.

The heat in Delhi is attributed to its neighboring states. Delhi, surrounded by land without mountains or seas nearby, experiences rising temperatures due to the nearby desert state of Rajasthan. The heat from the sand and the winds from Rajasthan elevate Delhi’s temperature. Additionally, the current heatwave is exacerbated by hot winds blowing in from the west, causing desert heat to spread into the northern plains. Consequently, temperatures in Delhi and its surrounding regions escalate rapidly, with some areas reaching as high as 50 degrees Celsius.

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