Tamil Nadu Unveils ₹50 Crore Disaster Fund and Heat Action Plan to Combat Extreme Heat

Chennai: Tamil Nadu has allocated a ₹50 crore revolving fund to strengthen disaster preparedness across the state, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister K.A. Sengottaiyan announced on Tuesday. The fund will be managed by the Tamil Nadu Disaster Risk Reduction Agency (TNDRRA) and will ensure that District Collectors have immediate access to resources for preparedness, response, and relief measures.

Speaking at a workshop on heat resilience in Chennai, the Minister also announced the establishment of the Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Institute at an estimated cost of ₹55 crore. The institute will serve as the state's nodal centre for disaster management training, research, capacity building, policy support, and scientific innovation.

The workshop marked the release of the Tamil Nadu State Heat Action Plan 2026, which the Minister described as one of the most comprehensive such plans in the country. The plan outlines strategies to mitigate the impact of extreme heat, particularly on vulnerable populations.

Two memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were signed during the event. The TNDRRA partnered with the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, to collaborate on weather forecasting, severe weather analysis, and studies on thunderstorms and lightning. The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) signed an agreement with the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) to establish a Project Management Unit (PMU) that will prepare detailed project reports aimed at reducing heat impacts in vulnerable wards of Chennai.

The event also saw the release of the annual weather report by the Deputy Director General of Meteorology and the introduction of a daily weather forecasting initiative. Senior officials from various government departments, including the Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Greater Chennai Corporation, National Health Mission, Public Works Department, and the Tamil Nadu Environment and Climate Change Department, participated in the workshop.

The revolving fund and new institute are part of Tamil Nadu's broader efforts to build climate resilience and improve disaster management capabilities. The state has faced increasing instances of extreme weather events, including heatwaves and cyclones, underscoring the need for proactive measures.