Revenue Minister Sengottaiyan chairs first meeting of El Nino expert advisory panel

PRESS RELEASE To continuously monitor the impacts and effects likely to occur in Tamil Nadu due to the El Niño factor and to provide advice on the precautionary measures to be taken from time to time, the Government of Tamil Nadu, on the advice of the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, has ordered the constitution, on 28.07.2026, of an Expert Advisory Committee comprising experienced experts from various fields, under the chairmanship of the Additional Chief Secretary/Commissioner of Revenue Administration and State Relief Commissioner. Following this, the first meeting of the aforesaid committee was held today (04.08.2026) at the State Emergency Operations Centre Conference Hall at Ezhilagam, Chennai, under the chairmanship of Hon'ble Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management Thiru K.A. Sengottaiyan, in the presence of Additional Chief Secretary/Commissioner of Revenue Administration and State Relief Commissioner Thiru N. Muruganandam, IAS. During the southwest monsoon months of June and July, Tamil Nadu normally receives 133.75 mm of rainfall. This year (2025-2026), rainfall of only 111.19 mm has been received, which is 16.68% below normal. Furthermore, of the 38 districts in Tamil Nadu, about 24 districts have received southwest monsoon rainfall below normal. Of these, 4 districts — Chengalpattu, Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi and Namakkal — have received southwest monsoon rainfall more than 60% below normal. The storage capacity of dams in Tamil Nadu is normally around 85% full during this period; however, due to below-normal rainfall this year, only about 31% has been filled. Further, to expedite works to improve safe drinking water and water resources in Tamil Nadu, the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has already ordered a total allocation of Rs.340 crore — comprising Rs.330 crore for improving water resources and distributing drinking water through lorries via the Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department and the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, and Rs.10 crore for the Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries — Fishermen Welfare Department. Following this, proposals have been received from the heads of the concerned departments and recommendations have been made to the Government. As a result, precautionary measures are being undertaken to ensure that problems such as drinking water shortage do not arise in the state, and to ensure that fodder is immediately made available for livestock in view of the excessive heat and drought conditions. The meeting was attended by Secretary of the Revenue and Disaster Management Department Dr. K.S. Palanisamy, IAS, Commissioner of Disaster Management Thiru A. Sivagnanam, IAS, Expert Advisory Committee members Professor S. Kannan, Dr. Balaji Narasimhan, Dr. Arivudai Nambi Appadurai, Dr. Ramesh Ramachandran, Dr. R. Sengadesan, Dr. J.K. Patterson Edward, Thiru R. Pradeep John, and government officials. Released by: Director, Directorate of Information and Public Relations, Chennai-9