RWAs to obtain coaching in monsoon disaster response from Chennai Corporation

The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) plans to coach 7,000 Residents Welfare Associations (RWA) members to sort out Northeast monsoon successfully, in case there’s a heavy downpour. A preliminary on-line assembly was hosted on Saturday by Corporation officers to ask members of RWAs to register to coach for monsoon preparedness.

The coaching, primarily for residents of residences and complexes, will cowl how one can relocate people from decrease flooring to greater flooring, accommodate the aged and sick, distribute and share meals, and establish shelters.

“This drill was held by the Commissioner of Revenue Administration and Disaster Management within the earlier years for few volunteers, and the identical was instructed to be performed by the GCC this 12 months. At first, 500 members of RWAs are anticipated to be given coaching to deal with conditions in case of heavy downpour, and they are going to be referred to as ‘grasp trainees’. They will, in flip, practice extra folks beneath them. A complete of seven,000 are focused to be skilled earlier than heavy rains set in,” an official stated. The ‘grasp trainees’ would practice the opposite members, and ultimately, one individual per block is predicted to be skilled for serving to others. “The location and modus operandi, as soon as fastened, can be detailed,” officers added.

N. Hari Krishnan, the chairman and chief coordinator of the group Tamil Nadu Volunteers, within the assembly stated, “Rather than an NGO or different volunteers assessing an space’s slopes or valleys, the RWA members, who would already know the realm inch-by-inch, would assist executing this initiative to help the general public to sort out inundation throughout heavy rainfall higher.”

“Food ready by others [like volunteers] can solely be adjusted for a day for a lot of. Beyond that, particularly if stagnation or spoilage happens, folks will need higher meals. Training can even cowl how one can handle such conditions, together with coping with energy outages or lack of important provides. During these occasions, residents can come collectively to pool assets, cook dinner meals collectively, and distribute meals among the many group. We will exhibit how one can organise and coordinate these actions,” he added.

Later, on the assembly, the RWA representatives identified a number of issues concerning town’s monsoon preparedness.

G.V. Subramanyan from Ward 4, stated, uncovered electrical wires have been hanging haphazardly, which is extraordinarily harmful, as it could trigger hearth even when there isn’t any downpur. “Several complaints have been made, but the problem has not been rectified,” he stated. Officials stated this can be checked upon, on the assembly. He added that oil leak from industries in North Chennai have to be checked and plugged earlier than rain, and that satisfactory boats are organized, noting that many needed to dredge within the rainwater blended with oil, hazardous for the pores and skin, to achieve to safer locations in 2023.

“A mock drill have to be performed to check the preparedness and coordination amongst GCC and different key line departments, corresponding to CMWSSB and TANGEDCO. This additionally extends to the Forest Department, as many reptiles enter residential areas throughout the monsoon. Private events cost a minimal of ₹3,000 to take away every reptile, and it turns into tough to boost funds throughout important occasions,” stated Geetha Ganesh, Secretary of the AGS Colony Residents Welfare Association.

RWAs from Nanganallur, Kolathur, Anna Nagar and North Chennai requested GCC to verify broken streetlight poles, full stormwater drain and underground sewage pipeline building, end incomplete culverts, desilt Buckingham Canal fully, and clear rubbish and backyard waste recurrently, on the assembly.