2 weeks Ago
Chennai: The state govt has directed district collectors to ensure public safety by inspecting and repairing or demolishing weak public structures ahead of northeast monsoon . This directive was issued during a pre-monsoon preparedness meeting on Saturday, chaired by chief secretary N Muruganandam. Superintendents of police and heads of various service departments participated, sources said.
During the meeting, officials from municipal administration, energy, water resources, home, and other departments participated. "The chief secretary issued a series of directions to district administrators, including inspecting water bodies, cleaning storm water drains and channels, and strengthening tanks and banks of rivers," an official said. Nodal officers would be appointed by departments in each district to coordinate efforts during the monsoon to ensure timely delivery of services.
The chief secretary emphasized the importance of equipping critical mobile towers with generators to maintain communication during possible inundations. Low-lying areas would have to be identified, and residents would have to be evacuated to relief centres promptly. Better coordination with volunteers and NGOs during disasters was also stressed.
The onset of the northeast monsoon is expected shortly as the withdrawal of the southwest monsoon may begin next week. The state recorded 361.6mm of rainfall during the southwest monsoon, exceeding the average of 288.
6mm. The water resources department reported that the combined storage of 90 reservoirs in the state was 68% of the full capacity of 224.297tmcft.
Last week, the chief secretary conducted a separate pre-monsoon preparedness meeting with Chennai and neighbouring district administrators. Tangedco, the state power utility, has prepared for the northeast monsoon by stocking 3,864 distribution transformers, 1.33 lakh poles, and conductors for about 14,373 km.
It also raised power transformer plinths by a metre in 31 waterlogging-prone substations in Chennai, including areas like Kodambakkam, Alwarthirunagar, Perumbakkam, R A Puram, Periyar Nagar, Koyambedu Market, and K K Nagar so far..
