Chennai: The Central team has lauded the state government for taking swift action during the deluge which caused havoc in Chennai and other districts last month and the relief operations.
Addressing a meeting chaired by Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa in Chennai on Tuesday, team leader and joint secretary, ministry of home affairs, T.V.S.N. Prasad, said, “There is widespread appreciation in the Union ministries for the prompt manner in which the state government machinery rose to the occasion and attended to rescue, relief and restoration work. The state government was successful in preventing outbreak of any epidemic by timely measures such as chlorination and health camps.”
Speaking to the eight-member team, which was visiting the state for the second time, Jayalalithaa said: “I request the Central team to make an in-depth assessment of the damages suffered by the State and to submit its report to the ministry of home affairs expeditiously.”
She also thanked the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, for deputing the same central team to the state again. Speaking to reporters, Prasad said the inter-ministerial team held discussions with Chief Minister, chief secretary and senior officials. During the two-day visit, team members will meet the people in the flood-hit places. The unprecedented rain, after the team’s first visit in November, had caused devastating deluge. Hence, there was a need to update the first report submitted by the central team. On Monday, the team visited eight flood-hit places, including Kotturpuram and Saidapet in Chennai. On Wednesday, the team will visit Tiruvallur.
DMK wants lake water release issue probed
The DMK held a massive protest in the city Tuesday demanding action on the Chembarambakkam water release issue. Both party president and his son and heir apparent M.K. Stalin were in the forefront, with Stalin using the occasion to assert, “Soon the ruling AIADMK will have to answer. It will be done by unseating the AIADMK and return of the DMK led by Kalaignar.”
The government handling of the deluge was the target of attacks with several thousand DMK cadres descending on Wallajah road in Chepauk. Karunanidhi warned that his party would soon respond to the ruling party “legally and through parliamentary democracy.”
Karunanidhi also made a reference to the defence of the government as well as that of the Chief Minister that there was no wrongdoing on the issue of water release, and said she even “defended” such a serious charge.
Earlier, several resolutions were passed during the protest, including the party’s reiteration of its demand for a judicial probe into the release of excess water from Chembarambakkam and distribution of relief measure under the supervision of all political parties and NGOs.
Download the all new Deccan Chronicle app for Android and iOS to stay up-to-date with latest headlines and news stories in politics, entertainment, sports, technology, business and much more from India and around the world.
