Chennai, Sept 22:
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has directed district administrations to step up preparedness in coastal and delta districts ahead of the Northeast Monsoon and intensify measures to prevent and control dengue.
Chairing a review meeting at the Secretariat on Monday, Vijay instructed officials to focus on flood preparedness, emergency response, evacuation plans, public warnings and healthcare readiness. Authorities were asked to identify vulnerable areas facing seawater ingress, coastal erosion and flooding and keep details of vulnerable villages and residents ready for evacuation.
The Chief Minister also directed officials to ensure that weather and sea-related warnings reach fishermen without delay. Cyclone shelters, multipurpose evacuation centres, schools and community halls should be kept ready as relief camps with adequate drinking water, food, electricity, sanitation and medical facilities.
Emergency response teams were asked to keep boats, life jackets, ropes, generators and water pumps ready. The government also stressed the need to ensure that SMS-based and other emergency warning systems reach the public, while satellite phones and other emergency communication equipment remain functional during severe weather.
Officials have been instructed to use drones to inspect roads, stormwater drains and bridges and identify maintenance requirements before the monsoon intensifies. The Chief Minister also directed authorities to protect paddy stocks stored in government godowns from rainwater and flooding.
Dengue prevention was another major focus of the meeting. District-level monitoring of dengue and fever cases, mosquito breeding sites and the availability of fogging equipment has been intensified. Dengue Breeding Check workers have been asked to conduct door-to-door inspections, eliminate Aedes mosquito breeding sources, undertake larval control and increase awareness in high-risk areas.
Government hospitals and Primary Health Centres have also been directed to remain prepared for early diagnosis and treatment of dengue, including laboratory testing, clinical assessment, identification of warning signs, timely referral, fluid management and treatment of severe cases.
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister K.A. Sengottaiyan submitted the preliminary report of the Expert Advisory Committee on Disaster Management on El Nino during the meeting.
Health Minister G.K. Arunraj, Chief Secretary M. Sai Kumar, senior officials and collectors from 14 districts participated in the review meeting, with other district collectors joining through videoconference.