Sitaram Yechury wants probe into flood situation

“After coming to Chennai, I heard that there were various lapses because of which this sort of flooding was caused here,” Yechury told reporters after meeting flood affected people in Velacherry.

Demanding an inquiry into the flood situation that left the coastal city paralysed, Yechury noted that four parties led by People Welfare Front has demanded a probe by a sitting judge on the issue. “Parliament is in session, tomorrow when we return to Parliament on behalf of the CPI (M) we will take up the issue with the central government and with the concerned ministers,” he added. He also said that his party would also press in Parliament for more central assistance.

The Marxist leader, who distributed relief materials to flood affected people in various parts of Chennai, said the priority in Chennai was to help people overcome human suffering. “I am here on purely on a humanitarian call. We are a party for whom humanism and helping people, who are victims of human suffering, is an important element of work. I am here to try and do whatever we can do for the people who have been the victims of the floods,” he said.

When asked whether the flood was caused due to poor water management, Yechury said it was a case of poor water management. “Tamil Nadu from ancient time itself had a very scientifically advanced system of water management. You have seen the system of tanks and adequate releases. The kind of water scarcity in the Chennai city you have seen in the recent period was not there earlier. All those systems have been disrupted. No alternate scientific system was put in place,” he said.

The absence of a scientific system is the real problem, not merely to Chennai city but for whole of Tamil Nadu. “Every year around this time you have a disaster of huge dimension because of unscientific water management in the state. All four parties will definitely press for a scientific study and implementation of a scientific method,” he said.