The government has allocated ₹281 crore to take up various precautionary and disaster prevention measures, said K.A. Sengottaiyan, Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management, here on Thursday.

Speaking to a meeting to review the precautionary measures taken in Nagapattinam district ahead of the northeast monsoon, Mr. Sengottaiyan, who chaired the meeting, said the government had allocated ₹10 crore to protect cattle. “It is significant that the government has allocated funds to take measures even before any disaster has struck. Steps were being taken to handle any exigency in a coordinated manner,” he said.

Underlining the importance of taking steps in Nagapattinam district, he pointed out that the district was home to internationally famous spiritual destinations such as the Velankanni Basilica and the Nagore Dargah that attracted lakhs of devotees.

Three teams formed

Three inter-departmental teams, comprising officials of all government departments, had been constituted for each taluk for carrying out search and rescue and organise and shelter and maintenance of people who may be affected during the monsoon season.

Sixty-eight places had been identified as vulnerable for floods in the district and six multi-purpose shelters, 12 cyclone shelters, 100 community halls, 73 marriage halls, and over 160 educational institutions have been identified for accommodating affected people during emergencies. Twenty-nine early warning systems were functional in the district. Necessary men and machines had been kept ready to handle exigencies in the district, he said.

Minister for Minorities Welfare A.M. Shajahan and Minister for Fisheries A. Srinath and senior officials led by Rajesh Lakhoni, Additional Chief Secretary and Commissioner of Land Administration, and K.J. Praveen Kumar, Collector, attended the meeting.