Chennai: Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam on Tuesday conducted a Vardah relief meeting at the Ripon buildings, a rarity for the state’s top executive to convene a meeting at the Chennai corporation headquarters that currently monitors the city relief works.
As a ripple effect, senior ministers and top IAS officers camped at the corporation office until late Wednesday monitoring the relief work.
Though the state top brass thronged the Ripon Buildings, the headquarters wore a deserted look for the second consecutive day and functioned with the help of generators.
“Our priority was to prevent loss of life and ensure supply of water, milk and food and this had been achieved during the time of crisis. Our next focus is to clear trees. About 90 per cent of the main roads are now motorable,” said a senior official, who accompanied the chief minister during his inspection to cyclone hit areas.
Meanwhile, several parts of north and Central Chennai continue to choke due to power disruption and blocked roads as reports came in till the time of going to press.
The meeting lasted for about half an hour and was attended by municipal administration minister S.P. Velumani and department secretary K. Phanindhar Reddy.
Corporation commissioner D. Karthickeyan briefed Panneerselvam about the functioning of 27 relief camps in Chennai and about the deployment of civic staff in rain hit areas.
