Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijaykanth held a high-level review meeting on Tuesday regarding the state's preparedness for the upcoming northeast monsoon, directing officials to take immediate steps to protect coastal communities and curb the spread of dengue.
The northeast monsoon, which typically hits Tamil Nadu between October and December, accounts for nearly half of the state's annual rainfall. In recent years, it has become increasingly unpredictable, bringing heavy downpours, cyclonic activity, and coastal flooding to districts along the Coromandel Coast.
During the review, the chief minister instructed the disaster management and coastal administration departments to prepare a comprehensive list of areas vulnerable to sea water intrusion and coastal erosion. Officials were told to identify low-lying stretches where rising tide levels could seep inland and damage homes, agriculture, and freshwater sources during heavy rains.
CM Vijaykanth also stressed the importance of early warning dissemination. He directed that all weather forecasts and storm alerts be immediately relayed to fishermen operating in the Bay of Bengal and to staff at rehabilitation centres established for coastal residents. Many fishing communities in districts like Nagapattinam, Cuddalore, Villupuram, and Kanchipuram rely on real-time information to decide whether to venture out to sea.
In addition to monsoon preparedness, the chief minister raised concerns about dengue prevention. With standing water likely to accumulate after heavy rainfall, health officials have been asked to ramp up vector control measures, including fogging drives and public awareness campaigns in urban and rural areas across the state.
The meeting also touched upon the strengthening of flood control infrastructure, including the dredging of drainage channels and the inspection of embankments along rivers such as the Palar and Cheyyar. Emergency response teams were put on alert for rapid deployment in case of waterlogging or landslides in hilly tracts.
The chief minister's directives come against the backdrop of last year's northeast monsoon, which caused significant disruption across the state, with Chennai recording above-normal rainfall and several coastal villages experiencing severe waterlogging. Authorities hope the proactive measures announced today will reduce losses and save lives this season.
