Ahead of cyclone ‘Gaja’, which is expected to make landfall in the State on November 15, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami chaired a meeting at the Secretariat here on Monday to review the preparatory arrangements being made by various government agencies.
The steps being taken by various agencies and further efforts required were discussed at the meeting. The coordination of various agencies, including the armed forces, was discussed in detail.
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Plans for mobilising equipment and manpower from other districts were also examined.
Forest Minister Dindigul C. Sreenivasan, School Education Minister K.A. Sengottaiyan, Electricity Minister P. Thangamani, Fisheries Minister D. Jayakumar, Health Minister C. Vijaya Baskar, Chief Secretary Girija Vaidyanathan and Commissioner of Revenue Administration K. Satyagopal were present at the meeting.
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs had issued an advisory to the State government over the cyclonic system in the Bay of Bengal.
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AMMK’s charge
Meanwhile, Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran, in a statement, pointed out that the National Green Tribunal had imposed a penalty of Rs. 2 crore on the Public Works Department for failing to deal with the pollution of Adyar and Cooum rivers and the Buckingham Canal, as well as encroachments on the banks of these rivers.
“The reports [about the NGT imposing a fine on the PWD] show how lethargic the Palaniswami government has been on people-related issues,” Mr. Dhinakaran alleged.
“If such was the condition in the State capital, despite Ministers claiming to be well-prepared for the monsoon, what would be the condition in other parts of the State?” the R.K. Nagar MLA wondered.
Plans for mobilising equipment, manpower from other districts discussed