Revenue Minister Sengottaiyan launches heat-resilience workshop, signs MoUs on heat action

Press Release Hon'ble Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management Thiru. P.A. Sengottaiyan today (28.07.2026) inaugurated a training workshop on Heat Risk Management titled "Towards a Heat-Resilient Tamil Nadu" at Guindy, Chennai. In his keynote address, the Hon'ble Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management stated that, taking into account the need for District Collectors to have funds available in advance for pre-emptive, preparedness, rescue and relief measures in disaster management, this Government has allocated a revolving fund of Rs.50 crore to the Tamil Nadu Disaster Risk Reduction Agency, which will be released to District Collectors immediately as required. He further stated that thousands of front-line workers have been trained across the State, with 550 Aapda Mitra volunteers and 6,034 Yuva Aapda Mitra volunteers making outstanding contributions to disaster management. He stated that the Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Institute will be established at a cost of Rs.55 crore, and that this institution will serve as the State's apex body for training, research, capacity building, policy support and scientific innovation in disaster management. He also stated that, as per the guidance of the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, the Tamil Nadu State Heat Action Plan – 2026, prepared by the Tamil Nadu Disaster Risk Reduction Agency, was released on 09.06.2026, and that it stands as one of the most comprehensive heat action plans in the country. At the workshop, experts held detailed discussions on the implementation of the comprehensive State Heat Action Plan for Tamil Nadu, sustainable cooling and heat-mitigation strategies to build heat resilience, the development of heat-resilient buildings and infrastructure in Tamil Nadu, and the resilience and demand management of the energy system in extreme heat conditions. At the workshop, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Tamil Nadu Disaster Risk Reduction Agency and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, for studies relating to urban weather monitoring, extreme weather analysis, and thunderstorm and lightning research. A Memorandum of Understanding was also signed between Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) and the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) for setting up a Project Management Unit (PMU) to strengthen preparedness and reduce the impact of extreme heat in vulnerable wards of Chennai and to prepare Detailed Project Reports (DPRs). In addition, the Deputy Director General of Meteorology (DDGM), India Meteorological Department, released the Annual Weather Report and introduced the daily weather forecast bulletin. The workshop was attended by Additional Chief Secretary/Commissioner of Revenue Administration Thiru. N. Muruganantham, IAS, Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Dr. P.S. Palanisamy, IAS, Secretary to Government, Public Works Department, Dr. R. Selvaraj, IAS, Commissioner, Greater Chennai Corporation, Dr. G.S. Sameeran, IAS, Director, Social Security Mission/Commissioner of Disaster Management (additional charge) Tmt. P. Gayathri Krishnan, IAS, Director, National Health Mission (Tamil Nadu) Dr. S. Aneesh Sekhar, IAS, Director, Tamil Nadu Environment and Climate Change Department Tmt. Asha Ajith, IAS, and senior officials. Issued by: Director, Directorate of Information and Public Relations, Chennai-9