Mumbai, Apr 21 (PTI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday inaugurated the ‘Centre of Excellence for Heat Resilience and Sustainable Cooling’ at IIM Nagpur, announcing that the facility will play a crucial role in devising mitigation and adaptation strategies to tackle heatwaves.
While virtually unveiling the centre from the Sahyadri Guest House, Fadnavis said that the facility will, in its initial phase, review existing heat action and urban climate action plans, and extend technical support for their implementation in identified cities and districts.
“Recent heatwave conditions in parts of the state, especially Vidarbha, have been severe enough to warrant the closure of schools and colleges. Climate change is intensifying challenges such as drought, hailstorms and rising temperatures. The newly established centre will play a crucial role in devising mitigation and adaptation strategies,” the chief minister said.
The centre will also develop structured training modules for government officials, healthcare personnel and urban communities to enhance preparedness and response to heat-related risks, he added.
Highlighting the state’s energy roadmap, the chief minister said Maharashtra aims to source 52 per cent of its energy from renewable sources by 2030 and 65 per cent by 2035.
“Efforts are underway to supply 16,000 MW of power to the agricultural sector through solar energy. At the same time, the growing reliance on air-conditioning due to rising temperatures necessitates a shift towards sustainable cooling solutions to minimise environmental impact,” he said.
Fadnavis said an effective heat action plan will be implemented, with emphasis on eco-friendly construction practices and sustainable lifestyle interventions.
The centre has been established in collaboration with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).
NRDC president Manish Bapna noted that the initiative assumes significance amid rising global temperatures.
“Clean energy and sustainable cooling are emerging as critical priorities. The Nagpur-based Centre of Excellence is expected to contribute not only at the national level but also globally,” he said.
IIM Nagpur inked an agreement with the NRDC to set up the centre, in view of the intensifying heat conditions in Nagpur and the wider Vidarbha region, the release said.
According to the release, the state government approved an outlay of Rs 184 crore for setting up the State Institute of Disaster Management (SIDM) at MIHAN in Nagpur, on the lines of the National Institute of Disaster Management. The Centre of Excellence will subsequently be integrated into SIDM, which is proposed to house eight such specialised centres.
The facility is expected to focus on research, capacity building and policy support, besides assisting urban local bodies in climate-responsive planning, promoting energy efficiency and facilitating the adoption of affordable and sustainable cooling technologies. PTI MR ARU
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.