With a view to assisting officials during times of natural disasters, the Tamil Nadu Government will establish a 1,000 member-strong Civil Defence Corps for units proposed in five districts, including Chennai.

The Corps units will come up in Chennai with a strength of 500 persons, 200 in Mahabalipuram (Kancheepuram district), and 100 members each in Madurai, Tirunelveli and Tiruchirappalli districts, an official release here said.

The necessity for such corps arose as there was a need for large number of human resources in areas affected by natural calamities such as cyclones or floods, and to carry out rescue operations swiftly to ensure the early return of normalcy. The members will assist State Government officials during such times, it said.

Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa has sanctioned Rs 89 lakh towards training and non-recurring expenses involved for this proposal and the respective District Collectors will function as District Controllers of these corps, it said.

Further, announcing a slew of measures for police personnel, the Chief Minister sanctioned Rs 100 crore as the first instalment of Rs 473.05 crore towards a housing scheme. She has directed the construction of 4,340 residences this year.

Modernisation of check-posts at Rs 4.15 crore, allocation of Rs 14.95 crore towards establishment of training facilities for new recruits and creation of new posts in the Forensic Science centres at Coimbatore and Tiruchirappalli, besides procuring new equipment there at Rs 53.25 lakh were other announcements made by the Chief Minister.

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