CM Vijay Directs Officials to Intensify Northeast Monsoon Preparations in Chennai
Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Tuesday directed senior officials and ministers to intensify preparedness measures ahead of the northeast monsoon, with a particular focus on flood-prone areas across Chennai and five other districts. Speaking at a review meeting held at the Secretariat in Chennai, the Chief Minister examined precautionary works planned for Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Cuddalore, Villupuram, and Tiruvannamalai districts to tackle the upcoming rains.
For the Greater Chennai Corporation, senior IAS officers have been appointed under the supervision of ministers to coordinate monsoon preparedness efforts across all civic zones. Vijay directed ministers and senior officials to conduct inspections at least twice a week in areas that experienced flooding during past monsoons, as well as sites where preventive infrastructure projects are currently underway. Officials were instructed to identify shortcomings during these visits and take immediate corrective measures before the onset of the monsoon.
District-level coordination meetings involving all administrative departments were also ordered. In Chennai, the civic body will work in coordination with the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, the police department, Fire and Rescue Services, the Health and Family Welfare Department, the Fisheries Department, the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation, and Chennai Metro Rail Limited.
To ensure unhindered drainage, the Chief Minister directed officials to remove water hyacinth from water bodies and desilt canals and stormwater drains to facilitate the quick discharge of rainwater. He also ordered that unfinished works involving drinking water pipelines, sewage networks, and roads be completed prior to the monsoon. Addressing electrical safety, the power department was instructed to locate and repair damaged or vulnerable power lines and weak electricity poles to ensure snapped wires do not cause loss of life.
Authorities were instructed to keep an adequate number of dewatering pumps ready to clear stagnant water, along with power saws and earthmovers to swiftly remove fallen trees from roadways. Rescue boats must also be kept on standby in flood-prone residential pockets to assist with evacuations if necessary. The Chief Minister further instructed officials to prepare schools and community halls to house people from low-lying areas, and to operate community kitchens supplying food and safe drinking water.
The review meeting was attended by Rural Development and Water Resources Minister N. Anand, Public Works and Sports Development Minister Aadhav Arjuna, Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. K.G. Arunraj, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister K.A. Sengottaiyan, and Natural Resources Minister Dr. T.K. Prabhu. Senior officials including Chief Secretary Dr. M. Sai Kumar and Director General of Police Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal were present, while collectors from the six districts joined via videoconference.
