AIADMK bid to re-desilt tank draws DMK fury in Salem

DMK Salem West district secretary SR Sivalingam alleged that it was an attempt by the ruling party to tarnish the image of the DMK just two days ahead of the party’s working president MK Stalin’s visit to the tank. He was scheduled to inspect the works on the Kacharayan Tank on Thursday.  It is learnt that the tank was not desilted for more than three decades. 

“As part of the state-wide desilting works taken up by the DMK, we gave a representation to the Sankagiri Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) a month ago seeking permission to desilt the tank,” said Sivalingam. However, the officials dragged the issue on, he said and added, “We started desilting the mud and strengthened the bund with the silt more than two weeks ago.” 

The district secretary pointed out that there was no opposition to the works when the desilting work was under way for 15 days. “But, all of a sudden revenue officials have once again granted permission to desilt the tank to the ruling party men in a hurried manner on Monday night. We strongly condemn this act of the government and the officials,” he said. Trouble began on Tuesday, when AIADMK cadre started collecting mud from the desilted tank. They erected party flags there. 

On seeing this, more than 500 DMK men rushed there and a heated argument ensued between the ruling and opposition party men. Later, DMK cadre went to the RDO’s office and staged a protest there. 

Meanwhile, four cadre led by DMK’s Konganapuram Union deputy secretary Annadurai climbed a mobile phone tower close to the tank as they were upset over the tank desilted by them losing its sheen. They came down only after the Revenue officials and police assured to put an end to the desilting work carried out by AIADMK men.