Chennai: Save Velachery from floods and Pallikaranai marsh from pollution, Velachery MLA Vaagai Chandrasekar urged the state during his maiden speech in the Assembly on Friday.
Pointing out that his constituency was blessed with lakes and water bodies, he complained that Velachery is now in a state of shambles. The locality suffered the maximum damage during the last year deluge.
Water bodies in Velachery had been encroached upon and adding to it garbage is indiscriminately dumped. Similarly, Pallikaranai marshland also suffers habitat destruction and pollution, thanks to Greater Chennai Corporation that continues dumping of waste on a daily basis.
“Pregnant women and children in my constituency suffer pollution and this needs immediate attention,” he urged. He also complained that state run gymnasiums, playgrounds and primary health centres in his constituency often remain closed.
The legislator also wanted to know about the state’s action on removing Seemai karuvelam (prosopis Juliflora) as it was affecting the ground water table.
Replying to the MLA, Local administration minister, S.P. Velumani clarified that the a committee had been appointed to ascertain pollution in and around Pallikaranai and the panel will recommend the state to carry out the pollution abatement.
The minister also emphasised that the state had taken adequate measures to prevent flooding in Velachery and pointed out the relief measures taken up post December floods in Chennai.
