Stalin directs officers to visit dists before commencement of monsoon

CHENNAI: Chief Minister M K Stalin on Monday directed the monitoring officers to visit the districts allotted to them much before the commencement of Northeast monsoon rains to oversee the readiness of the relief works.

The Chief Minister chaired a review meeting on the preparedness measures to be taken for the upcoming Northeast monsoon season in which Water Resources Minister Duraimurugan, Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management KKSSR Ramachandran, Chief Secretary V Irai Anbu, DGP C Sylendra Babu and officials of various departments participated. In the meeting, officials explained in detail the preparedness measures taken by their departments for the upcoming monsoon season.

Following their explanations, the Chief Minister, in his address, asked the senior IAS officers appointed as monitoring officers for every district to visit the districts allotted to them well in advance and to inspect the conditions of schools and relief camps for the monsoon season. "Extra care should be given for school buildings," said the Chief Minister.

He also said that 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 the basic amenities. "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," said Stalin.

Speaking about the flood mitigation works in Chennai, Stalin said that encroachments were removed and the water bodies were desilted so much that he has some confidence that there will no water stagnation in important places in Chennai but directed officials not remain idle with the same confidence and to complete the pending works at the earliest.

Stalin further directed the officials to complete the pending storm water drainage works on war-footing as there are no fences for the pits dug for storm water drainage works which might lead to accidents and traffic congestions in urban areas. The officials of Greater Chennai Corporation and Water Resources department were also directed to have a close watch on the water levels in water bodies supplying water to Chennai such as Chembarampakkam and Puzhal lakes as the water level in the water bodies are already on sufficient levels and to handle them properly.