Chennai rain: EPS demands white paper on flood protection work

CHENNAI: AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Tuesday criticised the state govt for waterlogging in Chennai. He demanded that the govt release a white paper on flood protection work undertaken over the past three years.

In a press release, Palaniswami questioned the actions taken based on the recommendations of the Thirupugazh Committee and demanded transparency on the govt’s efforts, cost estimates and completion of work.

“I urge the state govt to announce the efforts taken by the govt, the estimates and the percentage of work completed,” he said.

Palaniswami said the previous AIADMK regime led by him had initiated an integrated stormwater drain project, aiming at constructing 2,400 km of drains with financial support from external agencies like JICA, ADB, and the World Bank, and completed 1,240 km of these drains. He said the DMK govt had not continued the project. As a result, the city and its suburbs experienced severe flooding, he added.

He said many roads had been dug up improperly for laying power cables and building water and sewerage systems, resulting in accidents and fatalities. “People of Tamil Nadu have not seen such an incompetent govt,” he said.