Chennai rain: People are unaffected thanks to Amma govt’s 2015 plan, TN chief minister claims
Julie Mariappan| TNN | Nov 3, 2017, 20:18 IST
A waterlogged area in Chennai (TOI photo by R Ramesh Shankar)
CHENNAI: After taking a road trip to the flood affected areas in Chennai and nearby areas, Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Friday said the speedy efforts taken by his government - on a war-footing manner -- helped remove stagnant water from low-lying areas, despite the city receiving cumulative rainfall of 36cm in the last three days.
Palaniswami's comment comes in the face of allegations from the opposition on the poor preparedness of the state to combat the northeast monsoon.
In a show of unity and to express solidarity to the affected people, the chief minister along with deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam visited Mudichur and Perungulathur in Kancheepuram district in the evening, after paying a visit to Royapuram and R K Nagar of North Chennai. He reviewed evacuation of flood water by the civic body staff.
Palaniswami deputed a minister and a senior bureaucrat to take up flood relief work in each of the 15 zones.
"Bengaluru and Mumbai were inundated during rain. But due to the execution of the plan envisaged by Amma's government in 2015 as to how to remove flood water from low-lying areas, water is not stagnated today. People are unaffected," he said, patting the officials and ministers working together since night.
Recalling the announcement made by former chief minister J Jayalalithaa in assembly under Rule 110 that her government would construct 386km long drain network in Chennai at Rs 1,100 crore, Palaniswami said work in 300km had been completed.
With the financial support of JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency), the remaining work would begin at Rs 1,800 crore. Drain network would be ensured in areas that were inundated in the last three days.
Refuting the allegations that his government was indifferent to encroachments on water bodies, especially on the Kosasthalaiyar river, the chief minister said the exercise was carried out on a continuous basis and based on directions from courts.
Housing is provided to affected families.
On the complaints of poor desilting in the Adyar and the Cooum rivers, the chief minister said the water bodies were desilted and banks were strengthened.
The Papankal canal near Perungulathur, that carries the surplus of 120 tanks in the downstream of the Chembarambakkam reservoir, had been widened. It ensured free flow of 2,000 cusecs (cubic feet per second) of water.
Palaniswami said the second phase of traditional Kudimaramathu scheme to desilt water bodies costing Rs 350 crore could not be taken up owing to onset of monsoon.
"The scheme was launched due to requests from farmers and elected representatives so that tanks deepened and nutrient-rich silt will help farmers. A sum of Rs 100 crore was allotted in the first phase and 1,250 tanks desilted. It has helped realise additional 30% storage in each tank now, besides benefiting farmers," he said.
DMK working president M K Stalin on Wednesday alleged irregularities in the Kudimaramathu scheme and demanded a white paper from government.
Julie Mariappan| TNN | Nov 3, 2017, 20:18 IST
A waterlogged area in Chennai (TOI photo by R Ramesh Shankar)
CHENNAI: After taking a road trip to the flood affected areas in Chennai and nearby areas, Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Friday said the speedy efforts taken by his government - on a war-footing manner -- helped remove stagnant water from low-lying areas, despite the city receiving cumulative rainfall of 36cm in the last three days.
Palaniswami's comment comes in the face of allegations from the opposition on the poor preparedness of the state to combat the northeast monsoon.
In a show of unity and to express solidarity to the affected people, the chief minister along with deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam visited Mudichur and Perungulathur in Kancheepuram district in the evening, after paying a visit to Royapuram and R K Nagar of North Chennai. He reviewed evacuation of flood water by the civic body staff.
Palaniswami deputed a minister and a senior bureaucrat to take up flood relief work in each of the 15 zones.
"Bengaluru and Mumbai were inundated during rain. But due to the execution of the plan envisaged by Amma's government in 2015 as to how to remove flood water from low-lying areas, water is not stagnated today. People are unaffected," he said, patting the officials and ministers working together since night.
Recalling the announcement made by former chief minister J Jayalalithaa in assembly under Rule 110 that her government would construct 386km long drain network in Chennai at Rs 1,100 crore, Palaniswami said work in 300km had been completed.
With the financial support of JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency), the remaining work would begin at Rs 1,800 crore. Drain network would be ensured in areas that were inundated in the last three days.
Refuting the allegations that his government was indifferent to encroachments on water bodies, especially on the Kosasthalaiyar river, the chief minister said the exercise was carried out on a continuous basis and based on directions from courts.
Housing is provided to affected families.
On the complaints of poor desilting in the Adyar and the Cooum rivers, the chief minister said the water bodies were desilted and banks were strengthened.
The Papankal canal near Perungulathur, that carries the surplus of 120 tanks in the downstream of the Chembarambakkam reservoir, had been widened. It ensured free flow of 2,000 cusecs (cubic feet per second) of water.
Palaniswami said the second phase of traditional Kudimaramathu scheme to desilt water bodies costing Rs 350 crore could not be taken up owing to onset of monsoon.
"The scheme was launched due to requests from farmers and elected representatives so that tanks deepened and nutrient-rich silt will help farmers. A sum of Rs 100 crore was allotted in the first phase and 1,250 tanks desilted. It has helped realise additional 30% storage in each tank now, besides benefiting farmers," he said.
DMK working president M K Stalin on Wednesday alleged irregularities in the Kudimaramathu scheme and demanded a white paper from government.
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