Monsoon battle: TN to begin second phase of mitigation works tomorrow

CHENNAI: With the regional meteorological department informing the state government that the northeast monsoon would set in Tamil Nadu by the third week of October, the state government is set to kick start the second phase of monsoon mitigation works from Monday.

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami will hold a review meeting at the secretariat and interact with the ministers, disaster management officials and district collectors. Already the desilting works, and pre-monsoon preparation works are on. Due to the corona pandemic, new standard operating protocols will be followed this year,” a senior official said.

This year the number of evacuation centres will be increased to prevent the spread of the virus and those in low lying areas will be under constant monitoring, the official said.

The public health department had also been asked to supplement the protocol measures so that corona and the regular waterborne infections are well handled, the official told DT Next.

A total of about 9000 first responders have been identified by the District Collectors and drills will be held as part of awareness drives.

Government-owned multi-purpose halls, schools, colleges and community centres will be made available to support the evacuation.

Last month Chief Secretary K Shanmugham conducted a high-level meeting with senior officials to discuss the flood mitigation works taken up in Chennai and other parts of the state and the progress made since then will also be reviewed, the official said.

Training for state disaster management workers, health workers, conduct of drills, mosquito eradication measures, removal of water hyacinth and control of dengue and corona spread will be discussed.

Senior officials from PWD, revenue, health, local administration, Chennai Corporation, TNEB, fisheries and highways will brief the meeting about the preparation works taken up by their department.

District collectors and municipal commissioners will also open dedicated flood relief helplines by next week, sources said.

Central government department officials from the weather department, coastal security group, railways, coast guard are likely to be invited for the review meeting, secretariat sources said.

This year the number of evacuation centres will be increased to prevent the spread of the virus