As North-east monsoon set in, the government agencies geared up to tackle the eventualities and announced helpline numbers for those in need of help. Following the instructions of the Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, a special meeting to discuss the preparedness of various departments was convened at the Secretariat here on Monday. Minister of State for Municipal Administration K P Munusamy, Chennai Mayor Saidai Duraisamy, Deputy Mayor P Benjamin, Commissioner of CoC Vikram Kapur and Managing Director of Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB), Chandramohan attended the meeting.
Officials from various departments, including the Corporation, Metro Water, TNEB and police were instructed to step up efforts to assist people. The CMWSSB informed that adequate steps would be taken in keeping the canals in the city clean, de-silting them and clearing blockages during the monsoon season. The CMWSSB was instructed to conduct regular checks on the chlorination levels of drinking water, and to ensure that there was no seepage of sewage into the drinking water.
With power outages and broken EB posts causing discomfort to the public, the TNEB officials were instructed to keep adequate generators ready and to ensure that immediate steps were taken to clear fallen poles and cables. Keeping in mind the damage caused by fallen trees during the previous monsoon and this year’s pre-monsoon season, the corporation officials were instructed to keep at the ready equipment to clear the fallen trees immediately without causing hindrance to traffic, and to take the victims to relief centres. The officials were also asked to deploy more pumps to clear stagnant water from subways and other roads.
A major part of the discussions was devoted to keeping the vigil up on communicable diseases and curbing outbreaks of diseases such as cholera and dengue. The health department officials were asked to conduct camps with adequate supply of medicines and number of doctors. The departments also informed that special monsoon services would be extended through specific helpline numbers.