DMK seeks White Paper on funds for desilting

Referring to the state government’s claim that Rs 480 crore has been released for desilting water bodies, Stalin said the government should immediately release a White Paper on the amount spent on desilting and strengthening bunds of lakes and channels throughout the state. He told this to reporters while inspecting flood-affected Tambaram, Mudichur and Perungulathur in the company of his party MLAs TM Anbarasan and SR Raja.

The LoP, who claimed that they had sought the same information during the last Assembly session, said they were yet to receive an answer from the government. Stalin also sought to know what has become of Rs 19 crore allocated for desilting and strengthening the bund of Aadhanur–Adyar Canal draining flood water from Mannivakkam, Varadarajapuram and Anakaputhur. 

Records available with the government show that Athanur- Adyar Canal work was started in March last and officials claimed to have completed 45 per cent of it thus far, but no real work has been done there, the DMK working president alleged before claiming that the area residents had also complained about the non-execution of Adhanur – Adyar Canal desilting works despite allocation of funds.

“Where did the funds vanish? The horse trading government only makes empty announcements, it does not do anything constructive. The government does not bother about people and their welfare,” Stalin remarked. 

Making a mention of media reports suggesting that the state government had sought Rs 1,500 crore from the Centre for flood relief, Stalin advised the ruling AIADMK to first effectively spend the Rs 480 crore it had sanctioned before seeking funds from the Union government. Adding that nothing constructive would happen in the horse trading government, the DMK leader said the public grievances would be fulfilled after a regime change.