Open house: Are authorities in Amritsar doing enough to beat the heat?

City-wide heat action plan required

The rising temperatures in Amritsar demand immediate and collective action. While the administration has initiated steps like plantation drives and water kiosks, these efforts remain scattered and insufficient. A city-wide heat action plan is essential, with priority given to increasing green cover, maintaining public gardens and establishing shaded walkways and functional shelter homes. Many areas still lack basic amenities like potable water points, leaving vulnerable groups at serious risk. Voluntary organisations are contributing through relief efforts, but their work needs greater coordination and support from local authorities. Combating the heatwave is not just a seasonal concern -it is a public health and environmental issue. Sustainable planning, community participation and accountable governance are key to ensuring Amritsar is prepared for the growing challenges posed by climate change. Jaspreet Singh

Plant more trees, take care of existing ones

It is unfortunate that, in the face of rising temperatures in Amritsar, both voluntary organisations and the district administration have failed to respond effectively. They have not taken the necessary steps to address the situation. Our city lacks adequate shady trees and potable water points, basic requirements for coping with extreme heat. The first step should be to plant more trees and protect the existing ones. Only then can we expect any meaningful relief from the harsh climatic conditions. However, the opposite has happened in recent years. Many trees have been uprooted in the name of road development, and the city remains severely deficient in green cover. Although some plantation drives have been conducted by both the district administration and voluntary organisations, these efforts are far from sufficient. As a result, Amritsar continues to suffer from a lack of greenery, especially when compared to cities like Chandigarh, which have maintain a much healthier green cover. Nevertheless, as the saying goes, “Better late than never.” Since the hot weather is still ongoing, we still have time to take meaningful action. It is imperative that we act now, for the well-being of our city and its residents. SANJAY CHAWLA

Comprehensive mitigation strategy

With temperatures crossing 45°C, Amritsar is facing intense urban heat stress, exacerbated by concretisation, declining green cover and unplanned urban expansion. In this context, shady trees, potable water points, shelter homes and public gardens are not optional amenities but essential adaptive infrastructure. The district administration has made limited efforts — including tree plantation drives, water kiosks, and shelter homes — but these are often sporadic, unsustainable, and inequitably distributed, particularly in marginalised localities.

Voluntary organisations have stepped up by:

Providing water and shade stations, distributing ORS and umbrellas and running awareness campaigns. However, their actions remain scattered and uncoordinated, lacking institutional support. While green spaces like Company Bagh offer relief, most parts of the city remain devoid of cooling zones. The absence of an integrated Heat Action Plan hampers long-term impact.

What is needed:

A comprehensive urban heat mitigation strategy.

Public-private partnerships with civil society.

Community involvement for maintenance and outreach.

In sum, though steps have been taken, the response is piecemeal and reactionary. Climate-resilient urban governance demands proactive, inclusive, and sustained action from both the state and society. Preetpal Singh Chhina

Long-term approach need of the hour

As Amritsar grapples with an extended and intense heatwave, the need for climate-resilient infrastructure, like shaded walkways, public gardens, water points and shelter homes, has never been more urgent. The rising mercury is not just an environmental issue but a public health concern, especially for the elderly, commuters and the urban poor. While the district administration has taken some steps, such as issuing heatwave advisories and making temporary drinking water arrangements at select public places, the efforts remain scattered and largely reactive. There’s a visible lack of coordinated planning to ensure shaded corridors along major roads, expansion of green cover, or establishment of long-term cooling shelters in vulnerable localities. Public gardens continue to shrink under developmental pressure and potable water points are too few and far between. Moreover, shelter homes for the homeless are either overcrowded or non-functional during daytime hours when the heat is at its peak. Voluntary organisations and gurdwaras have come forward in pockets to offer drinking water and shade, but a city-wide, structured campaign involving civil society is still missing. With climate extremes becoming the new normal, the response, both institutional and community-driven, needs to shift from temporary relief to long-term preparedness. In conclusion, while isolated efforts exist, both the administration and civil society must scale up their commitment if they are to truly rise to the occasion. The heat isn’t waiting and neither should we. Rachpall Singh Gill

Map heat-vulnerable zones, deploy cool vans

As a resident of Amritsar, I’ve seen pockets of progress, saplings planted along Mall Road and a few water kiosks near the Golden Temple, but the hottest, most congested areas like Chheharta, Khalsa College Road and Kair Khana remain underserved. The district must map heat-vulnerable zones and install solar-powered misting stations and hydration booths at bus stops and markets. Indigenous shade trees like neem, jamun and pipal should line the National Highway 1 and arterial roads in suburbs like Raja Sansi and Hall Bazaar. NGOs can “adopt" mohallas for community-driven tree care, while students and gurdwaras sponsor public-garden maintenance. Mobile “cool vans" staffed by volunteers could check on elderly residents in village fringes. Only by blending administrative heat-action planning with local volunteer networks can Amritsar beat its rising mercury, before our city’s most vulnerable areas truly sizzle. Dr Ravi Gagan Mahajan

Collective effort necessary

Amritsar is sweltering under intensifying summer heat and the essential measures to protect citizens — shady roadside trees, widespread green cover, accessible drinking water points, functional shelter homes and cool public gardens — remain critically underdeveloped. The pressing question is whether the district administration and voluntary organisations are rising adequately to this escalating challenge. While the district administration demonstrates some recognition of the problem through announced tree plantation drives and occasional water kiosks near major sites like the Golden Temple, the overall response lacks the necessary urgency, scale and consistency. Tree cover initiatives often see poor sapling survival due to inadequate aftercare and existing trees are frequently lost to development without sufficient compensatory planting. Reliable public water access remains sparse outside core tourist zones, dedicated heat shelters are virtually absent for the vulnerable and existing public gardens need better maintenance and distribution to serve as effective cooling centres. Voluntary organisations, including local sewa groups and gurdwara committees, provide commendable immediate relief through water distribution and temporary shelters, particularly near religious sites. Their efforts are vital but inherently limited by resources and scope. They cannot substitute for the systemic, city-wide infrastructure that only sustained administrative action can deliver. The stark reality is that current efforts, though present, are reactive patches, not the proactive, comprehensive strategy demanded by the rising mercury. Progress is partial and dangerously insufficient. The administration must prioritise large-scale, coordinated action: ensuring tree survival, mandating green cover, strategically deploying water points and shelters, and optimising public spaces for cooling. Voluntary efforts need stronger integration and support. Amritsar requires a collective, war-footing approach; the present pace falls far short of the mounting challenge. Amanpreet Singh

Time to demand accountability

The mercury continues to rise and it has become increasingly evident that adequate arrangements are necessary to combat the harsh effects of heat. Shady trees along roads, ample green cover, potable water points, shelter homes and public gardens are essential infrastructure that can provide relief to residents and visitors alike. While the district administration has a crucial role to play in ensuring these facilities are in place, voluntary organisations can also extend valuable support in meeting the growing challenges posed by the heat. It is imperative that both the administration and these organisations rise to the occasion and work together to create a more liveable and sustainable environment. The question remains: Are they doing enough? Are the authorities taking proactive measures to enhance green cover, provide accessible drinking water, and create shelters for those in need? Are voluntary organisations stepping up to support these efforts? As the temperatures continue to soar, it is essential that we demand more from our leaders and work collectively towards creating a city that is resilient to the impacts of climate change. Harnam Singh

Community participation is a must in this fight

With the challenges of rising temperatures, it is imperative that the district administration prioritises the creation of public spaces that provide relief to residents. Adequate green cover, shaded areas and accessible public gardens can go a long way in mitigating the effects of heat. However, the onus does not lie solely with the administration. Voluntary organisations and citizens must also take an active role in promoting environmental sustainability and supporting initiatives that aim to reduce the urban heat island effect. It is heartening to see some organisations and individuals taking initiatives to plant trees and create green spaces. However, more needs to be done to create a significant impact. The district administration must provide support and resources to these efforts and ensure that they are sustainable and effective. As we move forward, it is crucial that we prioritise the well-being of our citizens and take proactive measures to address the challenges posed by climate change. Joginder Singh

District admn, civic body must collaborate

Global warming, driven by carbon emissions and deforestation, has been further exacerbated by the depleting green cover and rising air pollution levels. In urban areas, the situation has become even more unbearable during the summer months due to additional heat emissions from industrial combustion and widespread use of air-conditioners. The role of the Municipal Corporation is under scrutiny for permitting the unchecked growth of new residential colonies without enforcing compliance with minimum green cover norms. This has led to the relentless felling of trees, worsening the environmental crisis. Simply planting new saplings is not enough; their proper maintenance and upkeep are crucial to ensure they grow into mature, healthy trees. Unfortunately, even basic measures, like sprinkling water on roads during peak summer to reduce surface heat, have been neglected by the Municipal Corporation. The administration should consider deploying water tankers and water guns to help bring down ambient temperatures. Additionally, artificial rainfall techniques could be explored to counter the effects of extreme heat waves. To protect the public from heatstroke, the Municipal Corporation should install cold-water dispensers at major city intersections, set up “piaos”, and create shaded, air-cooled rest zones. NGOs and voluntary organisations must also be engaged in this noble initiative, especially during the harsh summer months. The district administration and the Municipal Corporation must work in close coordination to combat the intense heatwave that continues to grip the region. Timely and united action is the need of the hour. Anil Vinayak

Public-private partnerships needed

On World Environment Day, the district administration and its various departments often plant saplings and urge the public to participate in tree plantation drives to combat the rising temperatures during summer. While such drives are launched with much enthusiasm, they often end up being mere photo ops. Due to the lack of proper maintenance, most of the planted saplings do not survive. Additionally, many roadside trees perish because of careless acts, such as people setting dry leaves on fire. The green islands once created by the administration beneath the elevated road have also deteriorated due to neglect and lack of upkeep. The district administration and civic authorities must focus on the long-term maintenance of plantations. One effective solution could be fostering public-private partnerships. Prominent private institutions can be involved and encouraged to adopt green belts and hire personnel for their regular maintenance. Such collaborative efforts can ensure that plantation drives are not only symbolic gestures but lead to sustained greenery in the city. Dr Vikramjit Singh

Amritsar