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O Panneerselvam blames DMK for Thiruninravur flooding

Public Works Department Minister O Panneerselvam accused the erstwhile DMK government’s housing policy as the main reason for the flooding in Thiruninravur where nearly 1,200 houses are water-logged

O Panneerselvam blames DMK for Thiruninravur flooding
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O Panneerselvam

Chennai

Blaming the earlier DMK regime for poor water resource management, the State government decided to drain water from Thirunindravur lake where nearly 1,200 houses are water-logged. PWD Minister O Panneerselvam, in a statement, said that the residential areas went under water and people’s belongings were washed away in the flood as the earlier DMK followed a wrong water management policy. 

The statement added that villages and tiled houses were constructed in 50 acres of land along the lake. There was encroachment in Periyar Nagar-I and II, Muthamizh Nagar, Kannikapuram and Sudhesinagar where 2,467 houses were constructed and 1,006 issued pattas. The statement noted that as areas surrounding the lake were lined up with tenements, it was routine for these facilities to be submerged during heavy rain resulting in the lake holding only 12 feet of water. 

Also, when the water level increased by 7 feet, houses went under water, the statement said adding that the lake has 11 feet of water and many houses were inundated. Criticising the DMK for issuing pattas to those living there for over five years, the Minister said the DMK government did this intentionally to gain political mileage.  

The government has now decided to reduce water level through sluices without affecting farmers and residents in the locality. Meanwhile, tension prevailed in Thirunindravur on Wednesday, when revenue officials tried to explain the situation to them.

 A section of farmers opposed release of water stating that it would affect irrigation. But, residents along the lake too protested stating that were homeless with their belongings in hip-deep water ever since the rain. An altercation erupted between farmers and villagers and police had to intervene to pacify them.

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