Chennai: Exuding confidence of no inundation in Chennai City during the ensuing Northeast monsoon rains, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Monday directed the monitoring officers to visit the districts allotted to them much before the commencement of monsoon rains to oversee the preparedness of the relief works.
Stalin, who chaired a review meeting to take stock on the preparedness measures to be taken for the ensuing Northeast monsoon season, expected to begin in third week of October and last till mid-December, asked the monitoring officers visit
the districts assigned more frequently and inspect the conditions of schools and relief camps ahead of the monsoon season.
“Extra care should be given for school buildings,” he said and instructed the officials to check the safety and stability of school
buildings across the State, as part of monsoon preparedness. “Ahead of the monsoon, visit the districts assigned to you more
than once. You should stay there and inspect school buildings and relief camps. You should specifically focus on school
buildings,” Stalin said.
The Chief Minister also advised officials to prevent inundation in various areas in Chennai by taking precautionary steps. “This time around, I’m expecting that there will not be any inundation in key areas. At the same time, you should not be careless too”, he added.
After the officials explained in detail the preparedness measures put in place by their departments for the upcoming monsoon season, Stalin, in his address, said when the people are made to stay in relief camps they should be given quality food, water, electricity, medicine and healthcare facilities and there should be no slackness in providing basic amenities to them.
“An official should be appointed as in-charge for every single relief camp and by being cautious in every step we take we can minimize the loss faced by the poor people, farming labourers and fishermen. This is the intention of the state government,” he said.
On flood mitigation works in Chennai city, which had witnessed massive inundation in the past, Stalin said storm water drain projects are on in full swing in areas prone to heavy inundation, encroachments have been removed and the water bodies were desilted.
While directing the officials to complete the pending storm water drainage works on war-footing, the Chief Minister asked the officials of Greater Chennai Corporation and Water Resources department to keep a close watch on the water levels in reservoirs supplying water to Chennai such as Puzhal, Sholavaram, Chembarampakkam lakes which has sufficient levels at present.
Stalin also underlined the need for making more people aware of the helpline numbers, contain possible outbreak of epidemics, focus on disaster management and avoiding electricity-related mishaps.
