CHENNAI: Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Tuesday announced postponement of half-yearly examinations for schools in Tamil Nadu scheduled to commence from December 7 to the first week of January, 2016 as continued holidays had been declared in November due to the heavy rains.
This comes after a high-level meeting she had at the Secretariat. She has also deputed 14 senior Ministers, including O Panneerselvam, to the four districts experiencing heavy rains now — Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur and Cuddalore. Senior IAS officers have already been deputed to the districts. Precautionary steps have been taken to protect the people living in low-lying areas and those affected by the floods in various parts of these districts. “Storage in water resources which provide water to Chennai city — Poondi, Chozhavaram, Puzhal and Chembarambakkam have gone up to 83.8 per cent and keeping in mind the safety of these resources, surplus water is being let out. Further, of the 89 large dams under the control of Public Works Department, surplus water is being let out in 45 dams. Similarly, there are 14,098 lakes and of these, 6971 have reached full capacity. “I have directed the officials to evacuate people living in low-lying areas to safer places and provide all amenities,” the CM said.
She said highest rainfall had been recorded in Parangipettai (15 cm), Marakkanam (14 cm), Cheyyur (13 cm) and Madurantakam (12 cm) and the Meterological Department had forecast heavy rains would continue on December 2. Directions have been given to continue medical camps and to provide Nilavembu Kudineer to the people, if needed.