Chennai:With Chennai likely to receive heavy rain in the coming days, Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has set up dedicated command and control rooms in all zones, deploying drones to monitor low-lying areas in real-time.
GCC Commissioner, Dr. G.S. Sameeran, said on Saturday that each zone had been provided with two drones to monitor areas inaccessible to vehicles. Cameras installed in flood-prone locations would help officials track waterlogging and the situation of residents from the zonal control rooms.
Inspecting monsoon preparedness in Manali zone, particularly along the Puzhal surplus water channel near Amullavoyal bridge and in Sadayankuppam, he said the civic body had identified 17 low-lying areas in the zone that required close monitoring.
The Corporation was coordinating with the water resources department to prevent flooding from the Puzhal surplus water channel. Desilting and removal of water hyacinth were under way near Amullavoyal bridge to ensure the free flow of water.
The Commissioner said the India Meteorological Department had indicated the possibility of a cyclone forming over the southeast Bay of Bengal within 48 hours and moving towards north Andhra Pradesh or south Odisha. While Chennai was not expected to face a direct impact from this system, another weather system near Kanyakumari could bring heavy rain to northern districts, including Chennai, over the next 24 to 48 hours.
GCC has kept 220 relief centres ready across the city, including 17 in the Manali zone, along with central kitchens and other cooking facilities. Eight kitchens have been kept ready in Manali alone.
The Corporation has also intensified mosquito control operations, deploying 3,700 field workers for fogging and spraying larvicides in areas where stagnant water could lead to mosquito breeding.
Sameeran said the civic body was also monitoring reservoirs and water bodies in the suburban areas, including Poondi, Puzhal, Cholavaram, Kesavapuram and Thervoy Kandigai, in coordination with other departments.
During his inspection, the Commissioner reviewed the central kitchen, zonal control room and relief centre at a Chennai Corporation primary school in Mathur MMDA, besides inspecting precautionary measures in the Sadayankuppam Irular Colony area.
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