Ministers to monitor monsoon preparedness across GCC zones

Tamil Nadu Ministers and senior IAS officers have been appointed to monitor monsoon preparedness and disaster response across all 15 zones of the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC). As many as 219 waterlogging locations have been identified and emergency resources deployed ahead of the Northeast monsoon.

At a review meeting chaired by Minister for Public Works and Sports Development Aadhav Arjuna at the Ripon Buildings on Wednesday, officials were instructed to ensure that rainwater flowed without obstruction through the city’s waterways and that relief measures were implemented in coordination with various departments.

Of the 219 waterlogging locations identified, new stormwater drains have been constructed at 93 locations, work is under way at 19, water collection and pumping sumps have been established at 21, and motor pumps have been kept ready at 62. Preventive measures have been taken at the remaining 24 locations.

Desilting work has been completed along 1,583.62 km of the 1,669 km stormwater drain network, at a cost of ₹22.46 crore. The first phase of desilting has been completed in all 1,07,963 catch pits, while work is under way in 84,463 catch pits in the second phase. Of the 33 canals taken up for improvement, work has been completed on 28.

The GCC has earmarked ₹22 crore to repair potholes and ₹10 crore as emergency funds, at ₹5 lakh per ward. A total of 1,189 vehicles and machines have been kept ready for rescue and relief operations.

The resources include 676 high-capacity GCC motor pumps, 150 rented 100-HP pumps, 500 tractor-mounted pumps, and 109 water collection sumps. The GCC has 36 boats and the Fisheries Department 275 boats for rescue operations.

The GCC has also readied 220 relief camps and 110 community kitchens. Monitoring arrangements include 55 rain gauges and 40 water-level sensors to track rainfall and issue flood warnings. Boom barriers have been installed at 17 subways for public safety and traffic regulation.

The integrated command and control centres at the Ripon Buildings and the north, central and south regional offices will function round the clock. A total of 150 personnel will be deployed in shifts to handle complaints received through the GCC’s 1913 helpline and social media platforms.

The meeting was attended by GCC Commissioner G.S. Sameeran, Ministers P. Venkataramanan, Rajmohan, T.K. Prabhu, A. Vijay Tamilan Parthiban, M. Vijay Balaji, K. Vignesh, Ramesh, and D. Logesh Tamilselvan, along with Mayor R. Priya, Deputy Mayor M. Magesh Kumaar, elected representatives, and officials from various departments.