CHENNAI: With the northeast monsoon approaching, Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has directed officials to expedite flood prevention and monsoon preparedness works across all 15 zones.
Mayor R Priya, who chaired a review meeting on monsoon preparedness at the Ripon Buildings on Tuesday, directed officials to complete desilting of rivers, canals, railway crossing drains and stormwater drains before the onset of the monsoon.
The civic body has also been asked to speed up desilting of silt trapping chambers, construction and linking of stormwater drains, canal improvement works and desilting of wells in subways.
Officials have been instructed to keep motor pumps ready in low-lying areas that are vulnerable to waterlogging. GCC will also inspect all machinery and vehicles, including motor pumps and tree-cutting machines, to ensure that they are in working condition and ready for deployment during heavy rains.
The Corporation has identified 215 relief camps for accommodating people during emergencies. Officials have been asked to ensure that all basic facilities are available at the camps.
Similarly, adequate stocks of food items have to be maintained at 116 kitchens designated for preparing food during the monsoon.
The Mayor also directed officials to undertake desilting works at the outlets through which surplus water from the Puzhal and Kosasthalaiyar rivers is discharged.
Road maintenance has also been prioritised to repair potholes and damaged stretches on bus routes as well as interior roads before the monsoon.
GCC has specifically directed officials to take precautionary measures in areas including Korattur lake, Mylai Balaji Nagar canal, Parangusapuram, Rangarajapuram, City Link Road, Mount Road, G.P. Road, N.S.C. Bose Road and Arumbakkam Metro.
The civic body will also continue conducting more medical camps as part of its monsoon preparedness measures.
During the rainy season, personnel will be deployed on a rotational basis at GCC’s 1913 helpline centre and its social media platforms, including X, Facebook and Instagram, to receive complaints from residents and facilitate immediate action.
Priya directed officials to complete all preventive measures on a priority basis before the rains intensify so that disruption and hardship to residents could be minimised.
GCC Commissioner, Dr. G.S. Sameeran, Deputy Mayor M Mahesh Kumar, joint commissioner (education) K. Karpagam, and senior officials from the Corporation’s health, revenue and finance wings, besides regional deputy commissioners, attended the meeting.
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