Tamil Nadu: Departments gear up for northeast monsoon

Chennai: Ahead of northeast monsoon state top brass has sounded alert instructing district collectors to complete monsoon preparatory works. Thirty-three government departments starting from the public works department, police, fire, fisheries and local bodies have been instructed to keep their men and machine ready anticipating northeast monsoon rains from next month. 

In a related development, Chennai corporation instructed its field engineers not to commence any new road works as the monsoon was approaching. The civic body also directed its engineers to complete the ongoing projects on a war footing and ensure that no major works are taken up in Chennai from next month.

 Already a disaster management and a monsoon preparatory plan are there in place for all the districts and the collectorate will soon open dedicated helplines, a senior government official said. State level committees, district level committees and taluk level committees will be formed ahead of the monsoon to tackle the monsoon related public complaints. "Currently the state is focused more on dengue and anti mosquito drives. We are waiting for the dams and water bodies to get filled, once when the dams near the brim level, the monsoon action plan will come into force, the official said. Last year, early efforts were made to tackle rains, but the monsoon failed and this year we are taking steps as per the weather updates, the official noted. 

In Chennai, corporation commissioner D. Karthickeyan has instructed all the field level officials to keep motor pumps and mechanised boats ready ahead of the monsoon. He also instructed the zonal officials to inspect the community marriage halls and noon meal centres so that these facilities are kept ready for evacuations and distribution of food packets in case if there is a deluge in Chennai.