Arjuna Pays Special Attention to Villivakkam in Monsoon Preparedness

At a review meeting on Saturday at the Thanthai Periyar Community Hall in Thirumangalam, minister for public works and sports development Aadhav Arjuna directed officials of various departments to ensure that pumps, vehicles and equipment were kept ready and that rainwater was cleared promptly from vulnerable locations.

He stressed the need to prevent electrocution during the rains by raising low-lying electrical distribution boxes, relocating damaged boxes and laying cables underground wherever necessary. Officials were also told to expedite the removal of branches from trees posing danger and ensure that fallen trees were cleared without delay.

The minister also called for faster completion of ongoing development works and immediate action on petitions submitted by residents. Each department should designate an officer to monitor and resolve public grievances, he said.

He pointed out that some residents of Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board tenements had not received allotment orders, preventing them from accessing benefits such as ration cards. Officials were asked to resolve the issue without delay and ensure that monsoon preparedness measures were in place in both Urban Habitat Development Board and Housing Board colonies. Applications for ration cards should also be processed promptly, he added.

After the meeting, he handed over tree-cutting equipment to workers for removing fallen trees, and telescopic tree-pruning machines to cut branches of trees posing danger.

Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner, Dr. G.S. Sameeran, Chennai Collector S. Malathi Helen and senior officials from the Corporation, water resources department, highways department, Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, Tangedco, police, Chennai Metro Rail and other agencies attended the meeting.