Panneerselvam slams DMK for permitting encroachments in Tirunindravur lake

Chennai: Minister for finance and PWD O. Panneerselvam has held the previous DMK government responsible for permitting encroachments on water bodies at Tirunindavur, near here, where floodwaters remain stagnant in residential colonies since the December deluge.

In a press release, Panneerselvam stated that whenever DMK comes to power in the state, the party acts against people’s interests. When the AIADMK relinquished power in 2006, the state was self-sufficient in power and had not faced any power crisis.

Subsequently, DMK which came to power, did not start any new power project. After two years, the state faced serious power crisis. Similarly, DMK had not taken efforts to implement the Hogenakkal drinking water augmentation project and Chennai metro rail projects. He said Tirunindravur housing project was a glaring example of DMK government’s goof up.

During DMK rule, in 1990, the government proposed to construct houses with World Bank assistance. Subsequently, several huts and tiled houses were constructed on 50 acres at Tirunindravur lake. As many as 1,006 persons were allotted 2,467 sites, which were considered as encroachments, in Periyar Nagar-I and II, Muthamizh Nagar, Kannigapuram and Sudeshi Nagar. They constructed houses in the lake bed itself.

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