Chennai will suffer like districts battered, thanks to botched stormwater works, warns PMK
The senior leader said that people of the state are experiencing the brunt of the rains even before the northeast monsoon officially sets in.
PMK founder S Ramadoss
CHENNAI: Alleging that the government has failed to prevent flooding in Coimbatore, Madurai and other districts in the recent rains, PMK founder S Ramadoss warned that Chennai will also face a similar predicament as stormwater drain works are not completed in the capital city.
In a statement, the senior leader said that people of the state are experiencing the brunt of the rains even before the northeast monsoon officially sets in.
"In Coimbatore and Madurai, rainwater flooded the streets. Normalcy was hit in Pudukottai, Sivaganga, Karur and Virudhunagar districts too. This is due to the failure in constructing effective stormwater drains and desilting of irrigation canals," he said.
Saying that four persons have died in a single day due to the rains, the PMK founder slammed that the state government and Electricity Department failed to take precautionary measures.
"Chief Minister MK Stalin, Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin and Chief Secretary were reviewing the monsoon preparedness during the last month. But, there is no headway on the ground. Since heavy rainfall warnings have been issued to Chennai, it is scary what the city's residents will undergo," he added.
He pointed out that stormwater drain works are incomplete in more than 45 places in Chennai.
"The government and the Greater Chennai Corporation are depending on boats and motor pumps. The civic body should take all the measures to protect the people," he urged.
In a separate statement, party president Anbumani Ramadoss said that the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) had increased group 4 posts by only 2,208 despite the need for 15,000 more posts.
"As of date, 4.5 lakh government posts are lying vacant. Of the total vacant posts, 1.5 lakh posts are in group 4 category. More than 10,000 group-4 employees are retiring every month. However, the government and TNPSC publicise the appointment of 4,466 group-4 employees as an achievement. If this continues, government machinery will seize to function," he warned.