The Times of India 26.09.2009
Govt agencies told get ready to tackle monsoon floods
CHENNAI: With the northeast monsoon only weeks away, the city corporation on Friday convened a high-level meeting with representatives from all government agencies to take stock of preparedness and to chalk out strategies to tackle floods. The corporation has evolved a disaster management plan with contact persons and numbers of nodal officers of all departments.
"Coordination among officials plays a vital role. We should not lose time in reaching out to the needy. The lessons we learnt in previous monsoons should come in handy," corporation commissioner Rajesh Lakhoni said.
Lakhoni urged all service agencies, especially Metrowater and the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board to refrain from digging roads from October 1. The PWD has been asked to remove sandbars at the mouth of the Cooum and Adyar rivers to ensure smooth flow of floodwater into the sea. The agency has to desilt canals and remove encroachments.
The Met department has been asked to issue weather bulletins 24 or 48 hours in advance. The police department will install wireless sets at all important spots and in officers' rooms.TNEB has been asked to conduct regular patrolling of affected areas and to cut off power supply, if required.
Metrowater has been asked to ensure continuous working of sewerage pumping stations during floods, with heavy-duty motor pump sets. It has also been told to replace missing manhole covers and to put up pictorial signboards at dangerous or open spots.
The telephones department has been asked to ensure that all important helplines are free from any disruption during rain. The agricultural engineering department is to provide at least ten heavy duty pump sets to the corporation in an emergency; fire and rescue services will keep inflatable boats to rescue people in low-lying areas.
The fisheries department has been asked to provide adequate number of boats and catamarans. The highways department will have to provide links to storm water drains on Jawaharlal Nehru Road near Vadapalani and the SAF games village.
MTC, Aavin, the army, civil supplies, MRTS/railways, airlines, Red Cross and Blue Cross have also been asked to render support.
"Coordination among officials plays a vital role. We should not lose time in reaching out to the needy. The lessons we learnt in previous monsoons should come in handy," corporation commissioner Rajesh Lakhoni said.
Lakhoni urged all service agencies, especially Metrowater and the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board to refrain from digging roads from October 1. The PWD has been asked to remove sandbars at the mouth of the Cooum and Adyar rivers to ensure smooth flow of floodwater into the sea. The agency has to desilt canals and remove encroachments.
The Met department has been asked to issue weather bulletins 24 or 48 hours in advance. The police department will install wireless sets at all important spots and in officers' rooms.TNEB has been asked to conduct regular patrolling of affected areas and to cut off power supply, if required.
Metrowater has been asked to ensure continuous working of sewerage pumping stations during floods, with heavy-duty motor pump sets. It has also been told to replace missing manhole covers and to put up pictorial signboards at dangerous or open spots.
The telephones department has been asked to ensure that all important helplines are free from any disruption during rain. The agricultural engineering department is to provide at least ten heavy duty pump sets to the corporation in an emergency; fire and rescue services will keep inflatable boats to rescue people in low-lying areas.
The fisheries department has been asked to provide adequate number of boats and catamarans. The highways department will have to provide links to storm water drains on Jawaharlal Nehru Road near Vadapalani and the SAF games village.
MTC, Aavin, the army, civil supplies, MRTS/railways, airlines, Red Cross and Blue Cross have also been asked to render support.
