Fisheries Minister A. Srinath and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Minister P. Mathan Raja on Saturday chaired a meeting to review preparedness and precautionary measures to take ahead of the upcoming northeast monsoon.During the meeting, the Ministers instructed the local bodies to keep the community welfare centres, schools and marriage halls ready to function as temporary relief centres, with an adequate number of toilets at the centres. They were also instructed to ensure that the relief camps were maintained in a clean and hygienic condition.The Water Resource Department (WRD) was instructed to stock adequate quantities of sandbags at vulnerable locations. The WRD officials were also directed to inspect the tanks that had breached during the previous monsoon, and take expeditious measures to restore them.The Ministers instructed the Tangedco officials to remove damaged electricity poles and keep adequate stocks of poles and overhead cables ready. Highways department officials were directed to repair pothole-ridden roads. They were also instructed to inspect canals crossing highways and ensure that there were no blockages to facilitate the free flow of water.Health department officials were instructed to maintain adequate stock of life-saving medicines and medicines to treat communicable diseases. They were also directed to prepare a list of elderly, pregnant women and differently abled individuals residing in low-lying areas and ensure their early evacuation to relief camps.The fisheries department officials were instructed to immediately share cyclone alerts with fishermen and ensure that volunteers, boats and equipment were kept ready. The Revenue department officials were directed to inspect the selected relief camps and ensure that basic facilities were available at the camp. They were also instructed to designate a firka-level zonal officer for the speedy distribution of welfare assistance.Thoothukudi District Collector Vishu Mahajan and officials from several other departments including forest, transport, Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board (TWAD), Fire and Rescue Service and others were present. Published - September 12, 2026 06:21 pm IST