GCC and CEEW Join Hands to Strengthen Heat Risk Management and Climate Resilience in Chennai

The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) and the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen extreme heat risk management and enhance climate resilience across Chennai.

The agreement was signed during a heat risk management workshop organised by the Department of Revenue and Disaster Management at a private hotel in Guindy, in the presence of Revenue and Disaster Management Minister K. Sengottiyan.

Under the partnership, a Project Management Unit (PMU) will be established to provide technical coordination and strengthen the city`s heat risk management strategies. The PMU will focus on identifying, designing and prioritising high-impact heat mitigation interventions across heat-vulnerable wards and zones.

These initiatives will include cooling solutions, heat mitigation measures and climate-adaptive infrastructure aimed at protecting vulnerable urban populations from the growing risks associated with extreme heat.

The collaboration will also oversee the preparation of technical designs, Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) and actionable project proposals to facilitate timely implementation. Beyond physical infrastructure, GCC and CEEW will jointly conduct stakeholder engagement programmes, capacity-building workshops and public outreach campaigns to raise awareness and strengthen community preparedness.

By combining GCC`s municipal capabilities with CEEW`s scientific research and technical expertise, Chennai aims to develop a systematic, ward-level operational framework to address extreme heat and build long-term urban climate resilience.

The event was attended by Additional Chief Secretary and Revenue Administration Commissioner N. Muruganandam; Revenue and Disaster Management Department Secretary C.S. Palanisami; GCC Commissioner G.C. Sameeran; Social Security Scheme Director and Disaster Management Commissioner (additional charge) B. Gayatri Krishnan; CEEW Group Lead Vishwas Chitale; and several other senior officials.