Thiruvananthapuram: Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala has reiterated his demand for a judicial probe into the simultaneous opening of all dams which caused the floods in the state.
Mr Chennithala, who was speaking during the debate in the Assembly on Thursday, alleged that guidelines were not followed while issuing orange and red alerts before opening the dams.
A clear plan should have been prepared about the evacuation of people before the alerts were issued, he said.
Except at Cheruthony in Idukki, no proper warning was issued in any other place in the state. In Pathanamthitta, the collector was sleeping while the dams were opened. It was a journalist who alerted him about the opening of the dams. As the water had risen dangerously, three police announcement vehicles had drowned while giving alerts in Pathanamthitta district.
The UDF wanted the setting up of a tribunal to disburse compensation to all genuine applicants within three to six months. It could be either one tribunal or more since the affected people are spread over 14 districts, he said.
The government should distribute the financial aid immediately. Foodgrain is not being delivered to the people. The kit should reach each home, said Mr Chennithala.
The relief activities succeeded because of the people. The demand for handing over the relief operations completely to the armed forces was right. If that had been done, so many people wouldn't have lost their lives, he said.
Earlier, the Assembly witnessed a turmoil as Congress MLA V.D. Satheesan attacked the government for the floods in the state. Mr Satheesan alleged that dams were not opened at the right time and water-level was not controlled after the start of monsoon due to differences between various ministers.
