Chennai rains: Our government acted on war-footing, asserts Tamil Nadu CM
Chennai: Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Friday visited several areas affected by the overnight incessant rains including the worst-hit north Chennai and insisted that his government worked on “war-footing” to ensure that there was “no water logging” on major roads across the city.
Accompanied by deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam, cabinet colleagues and senior officials, Palaniswami visited R. K. Nagar, the erstwhile constituency of J. Jayalalithaa, Pallikaranai and Perungalathur in Kancheepuram district on Friday afternoon and met with people affected due to the heavy rains that pounded through the night. Palaniswami, who visited the relief camps where people living in low-lying areas were lodged, distributed food packets, biscuits and water to them and also listened to their grievances.
Brimming Narayanapuram lake on 200 feet radial road in Pallikaranai. (Photo: DC)
Palaniswami dismisses Opposition charges
People at the camps asked Palaniswami to devise a permanent solution to prevent inundation of low-lying areas in Tambaram to which he responded in the affirmative. Speaking to reporters, Palaniswami dismissed Opposition claims that the government did not make adequate preparations to tackle the monsoon rains.
“We ensured there was no stagnation of water this year despite the heavy downpour,” the chief minister said, adding that the city received 36 cm of rainfall in just two days. “You saw how much of water stagnation was witnessed in Bengaluru and Mumbai when rains pounded these metropolitan cities,” Palaniswami said, adding that government functionaries worked on “war-footing” and stagnant water has been removed.
Talking about the government's efforts to ensure city does not suffer during rains, he said a stormwater drain system is being constructed for the city’s needs and the work is over on 300 km of the proposed 386 km long system, he said. Palaniswami said the government acted in accordance with the plans devised post-December 2015 deluge that submerged the city in water and ensured that people don't suffer.
