India's rising demands for cooling make it a hot topic

As economy and population expand, government looks for new ways to keep homes comfortable and stop crops being ruined before they get to market

Narendra Sharma dreads the summer. Temperatures climb above 40C even before the sun has hit the pitted, potholed surface of the streets through which he pushes his vegetable barrow day after day. Even when dusk falls there is little respite.

"It's tough, even if you are used to it. And the worst of all is that I lose money," he said.