Secretariat limps back to normalcy as recovered Ministers, MLAs return

Ministers like Sellur K Raju, P Thangamani and K P Anbazhagan who were hospitalised earlier this month have resumed reviews and inspections. While the offices of the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister worked full-time, the chambers of the Ministers who tested positive were cordoned off or closed down. Now the restrictions have been removed, sources said.

The level of activity at the Secretariat has increased, with MLAs starting to visit the Ministers’ chambers for area development works and personal obligations, said Secretariat sources.

“The college admission season is another reason for the Secretariat to become active, as MLAs and party workers throng Ministers’ offices seeking recommendation letters for college admissions. The DMK MLAs, government contractors and party cadre are also visiting Fort St George for personal and official commitments,” a senior Minister’s PA told DT Next.

As central funds have been released to departments like Rural Development, Local Administration, and Adi Dravidar and Minorities Welfare, work on issuing government orders and according administrative sanctions have picked up since Monday, sources added.

The earlier restriction that only 33 per cent of the staff should attend work at government offices has been eased, and department heads have issued instructions to their subordinates to clear pending files, the numbers of which has risen due to the disruption caused by the outbreak. If Chennai continues to record less number of cases om the coming days, the Secretariat would be fully back to normal, sources said.

The people who are entering the Secretariat premises are subjected to thermal screening, and pulse oximeter check-ups are also done.