Chennai Rains: Why residents are not convinced by CM’s assurance of working on ‘war-footing’ basis

The ruling AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu faced flak over mishandling of rains in Chennai and neighbouring areas.

Chennai, Nov 4: All these days as rain battered Chennai and coastal areas of Tamil Nadu, raising fear of a repeat of deadly 2015 floods, senior leaders of the ruling state government, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), almost went into a hiding.

The anger among the public was palpable as they alleged that the government agencies failed to clear the lakes and construct proper storm water drains to retain the rain water which led to almost flood-like situation in the capital city once again.

Till late Friday night, Chennai witnessed 55 mm of rains, a record downpour for which the city's infrastructure is not strong enough to withstand.

So far, eight people were killed in rain-related incidents across the state since the beginning of northeast monsoon late October. Schools and colleges in Chennai will remain closed on Saturday too. In fact, educational institutions in the city and nearby places have been closed since Tuesday. Several exams too have been postponed.

Amid criticism of the AIADMK regime's handling of the rain situation in the state, Chief Minister K Palaniswami on Friday visited various parts of the city and its suburbs, hit by water-logging, insisting that his government was working on a "war-footing".

Accompanied by his deputy O Panneerslevam and senior officials, the CM visited RK Nagar and Perungalathur on the city outskirts.

"Low-lying areas with water-logging were identified in the Chennai Corporation (limits) and Kancheepuram district. Workers (in Chennai) worked on a war-footing and stagnant water has been removed," the CM told reporters.

People asked me to devise a permanent solution to the issue of inundation, Palaniswami said. As part of the government's resolve to address the issue, a storm water 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.

The entire work will be completed soon, he said without divulging further details.
The AIADMK leader added the government acted "quickly" to ensure there was no water stagnation in the city.

To a question, he said encroachments on water bodies were being removed in line with court orders, and denied that there was any delay in this work.

The CM said following the plans devised post-December 2015 deluge in the city, the government has ensured there was no stagnation of water this year despite the heavy downpour, he said.

"You saw how much of water stagnation was there in Bengaluru and Mumbai," Palaniswami said while asserting that his government was doing a better job.

Tamil Nadu ministers accompanied by designated officials have fanned out to various affected areas and are overseeing the relief activity, he said.

The state government has been facing criticism from the opposition, including Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), over handling of the monsoon fury.

They have also questioned the claim of the state government that it had undertaken desilting works ahead of the monsoon.

Meanwhile, Principal Revenue Secretary K Satyagopal said a 43 personnel-strong team of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) was camping in suburban Tambaram to attend to any kind of exigencies.

However, residents of the city are not convinced by the CM's assurances.

"Our politicians will never admit their faults. Thankfully, till now rains are lesser than 2015 December, otherwise situation would have been far worse. The entire Chennai and neighbouring areas are partially flooded. It's true the state received record rainfall again, but things could have been better if the government had improved the infrastructure," alleged a Chennai-based environmentalist.

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