Chennai: The power corridors of state secretariat were hyperactive on Tuesday with ministers and department secretaries holding back to back to meetings, a day ahead of the crucial Assembly session beginning on Wednesday. Senior ministers Dindigul C. Sreenivasan, K.A. Sengottaiyan and S.P. Velumani were in huddle with the senior officials.
According to secretariat sources, ministers have asked officials to keep the data related to all government schemes ready so that whenever an issue is raised by the Opposition immediate response is provided on the assembly floor. A few senior ministers have also briefed officials that the situation will be tough in the Assembly during zero hour and during policy debates as the sulking factions of the AIADMK may join hands with the Opposition DMK to ridicule the government.
Drought relief, agricultural schemes, water crisis and transport department issues are the key subjects the government is worried and the action taken by departments has been kept ready, a senior official said adding that education minister Sengottayan has been working hard for the past one week to make surprise announcements in the Assembly. There are a few reforms awaiting in the education department and similarly local administration minister S. P. Velumani who is now under criticism for water shortage is also on hyper active mode.
On Tuesday, minister Velumani also conducted a review meeting with municipal administration and water supply department officials to ascertain the latest works being carried out to fight water shortage, sources said.
Earlier in the day, city police officers also discussed the security arrangements that has to be in place during the Assembly session and have planned to deploy additional police force and marshals to ensure that there is no untoward incidents at Fort St George. Last week police officers in the ranks of deputy commissioners also took stock of the Assembly hall and its corridor to chalk out the deployment of police force.
