Stalin, Udhaya inspect rain-hit areas; CM says 25%-30% of Thiruppugazh panel recommendations to be completed

Chennai: Chief minister M K Stalin on Wednesday said 25% to 30% of the Thiruppugazh Committee are yet to be completed but promised they would be finished soon. The advisory committee on flood mitigation and management in Chennai had, after studying 30-year flood data of the city, submitted its recommendations to Stalin in March last year.

Following Tuesday's rain, Stalin visited some rain-affected areas including Guindy Race Course, Velachery and Narayanapuram lake in Pallikaranai. "Immediately after assuming office, we constituted a committee headed by retired IAS officer Thiruppugazh and started the work. We could not complete it entirely. It is true 25%-30% of the work is pending, but it will be completed soon," he later told reporters.

During the inspection, several residents thanked Stalin and the govt for ensuring water did not stagnate, saying that after 2008 it was only now that the problem had been resolved. They also thanked deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin for his frequent inspections, including visits to rain-affected areas in the last couple of days.

Udhayanidhi Stalin inspected Otteri, Kovilambakkam, Thiruninravur near Avadi, Chembarambakkam lake and Agaramthen Panchayat near Tambaram. At Thiruninravur, he visited a relief camp to distribute food and blankets and inspected the medical camp. He also distributed bread, biscuits, breakfast, and blankets to 600 frontline workers at his Chepauk-Triplicane MLA office. Later, he told reporters all ministers and officials were at the spot to work for the people. On AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami's demand for a ‘white paper' on the flood relief measures, he said clear roads were the ‘white paper'.

HR & CE minister P K Sekarbabu, after an inspection in Pattalam, said DMK govt was working for people and needn't respond to unnecessary criticism.