Officials told to stay put in Gaja-hit districts

More than six IAS officials and over 8,000 employees from different government departments will now have to extend their stay in the districts. A few senior officials who returned to Chennai on Friday to clear pending files at the Secretariat repacked their bags and are on their way to Nagapattinam.

Sources said Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, whose government is under criticism for delayed relief work, has made it clear to the Ministers and senior officials to be back at Fort St George only after restoring normalcy. Though no official circulars were issued, the direction has been conveyed. In case of emergency or scheduled administrative works, the nodal officers can relieve them.

Senior bureaucrats Gagandeep Singh Bedi, J Radhakrishnan, Vikram Kapur, Sunil Paliwal and P Amudha have also scheduled review meetings for the next one week in Nagapattinam, Thiruvaur and Pudukkotai districts. Among ministers, Revenue Minister RB Udhayakumar, Electricity Minister P Thangamani, Transport Minister Vijayabhaskar and Local Administration Minister SP Velumani have extended their stay.

Ministers OS Manian, R Kamaraj and C Vijaya Baskar will also return by next week. Now, directors, ministers PA’s, ministerial staff and government drivers have to extend their stay for the next ten days, sources added.