Chennai : As the Northeast monsoon started in Tamil Nadu in right earnest, with various parts of the State, including Chennai City and its suburbs experiencing heavy rains since last night, Chief Minister M.K.Stalin on Tuesday reviewed the situation with Ministers, senior officials and
Collectors of all Districts. In a virtual meeting to review the steps being undertaken in view of the monsoon rains, the Chief Minister directed
the officials to ensure that vulnerable areas are being continuously monitored by the multi-departmental zonal committees.
e also instructed the officials to ensure that hospitals, educational institutions and mobile phone service providers were in a state of readiness and also instructed them to depute rescue and relief teams to affected areas without any delay, an official release said. He advised officials to shift people from low-lying areas to relief centres well in advance and provide them with all basic amenities, including ensuring proper drinking water, food and healthcare facilities. While asking the officials to accord priority to senior citizens, persons with disabilities, pregnant women and children, he said people in the relief camps should be equipped with with milk, bread, food,
medicines to children and senior citizens without any shortage. Stalin also directed the health department officials to hold medical camps to prevent outbreak of any possible diseases during this rainy season. Directing the agricultural department officials to keep the paddy procured fromm the farmers safely from the rains in direct procurement centres across the State, he directed them to coordinate efficiently with MPs, MLAs, elected representatives of local bodies and other government departments to ensure that necessary relief measures reached the general public.
He said motor water pumps, tree-cutting equipment and sand bags should be kept ready and The general public could call the 1070 helpline if required, he said. While advising the authorities to attend to complaints expeditiously without wasting any time as any delay will lead to bad name for the government, Stalin urged the people to drink hot water and be cautious while using electronic equipment and gadgets. Tamil Nadu Water Resources Minister Duraimurugan,
Municipal Administration and Water Supply Minister K.N.Nehru, Revenue and Disaster Mitigation Minister KKSSR Ramachandran, Hindu Religious and Charitable
ndowments Miniser P.K.Sekarbabu, Greater Chennai Corporation Mayor R.Priya, State Chief Secretary V.Irai Anbu, senior officials and Collectors from several districts participated in the virtual meeting.
