Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Government urged to adopt effective relief measures

CHENNAI: Expressing dissatisfaction over the relief operations in flood-affected areas, leaders of various political parties have urged the government to adopt effective measures to overcome the crisis.

AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa alleged that though people had been kept in relief camps, they were not provided adequate food and no steps had been taken to rescue the people from the marooned areas.

She said when the AIADMK was in power relief operations were carried out on war footing and Rs. 2000 was given to everyone in the relief camps.

Besides damages for the crops were immediately distributed.

She said the DMK government had completely failed and called upon the AIADMK men to involve themselves in relief operations and distribute relief materials.

PMK leader S. Ramadoss urged the government to come out with a mega stormwater project to tide over Chennai’s woes during the monsoon.

“Evolve a scheme and implement it within a time frame,” he said

The PMK leader said though year after year Chennai was witnessing flood, inundating residential areas and roads, why did it not occur to officials of the Chennai Corporation and the government to take precautionary measures.

“Can’t they learn lessons from the experience and construct stormwater drainages,” he asked. Dr. Ramadoss said there was no point in beautifying Marina and creating parks.

The government should ensure that the Chennai was a liveable city.

CPI state secretary D. Pandian said no arrangements had been made to supply food to the people in camps in Thiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore and Thanjavur districts.

He said the government should take the Army’s help in carrying out rescue operations and rebuilding breaches in lakes and rivers.

“The government can also drop food packets from helicopter,” he said.

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