Chennai prepares for monsoon: civic body acquires 36 boats as precautionary measure

In anticipation of the upcoming monsoon season, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has taken proactive steps by purchasing 36 boats to enhance its preparedness in case of heavy rainfall.

This move follows a forecast by the Regional Meteorological Centre, which predicts normal to above-normal rainfall during the northeast monsoon.

The boats have been distributed across Zone 3, Zone 14, Madhavaram, and Perungudi to aid in flood relief efforts.

In a social media post on X, the civic body shared images of the boats, stating, “#GCC has purchased 36 boats as a precautionary measure in case of heavy rainfall during the monsoon season.” The post highlighted that one boat has been allocated to Zone 3, while Zone 14 has received two boats.

The northeast monsoon, typically arriving between October and December, is expected to begin in the third week of October, according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). The monsoon is crucial for providing much-needed rainfall to the southern region, and this year’s forecast suggests a higher-than-usual rainfall.

As part of its monsoon readiness efforts, the GCC has appointed 15 IAS officers to oversee preparedness in each zone. These officers are responsible for planning, relief, and mitigation measures. The corporation has also mapped out vulnerable areas, conducted analysis, and is focusing on institutional arrangements and pre-positioning human resources to handle potential crises.

Additionally, the GCC has ramped up capacity-building efforts, including developing traffic management plans, communication channels, medical preparedness, and stakeholder coordination.

The corporation's actions come after criticism over its handling of Cyclone Michaung in December 2023, which caused 400 mm of rainfall in two days, leading to widespread flooding, 17 fatalities, and extensive damage. Complaints were raised regarding inadequate disaster response and lack of warning.