Leaders flay Transport dept on Porayar depot accident

Leaders also urged the government to provide solatium to the kin of deceased and inspect all the bus stand roofs across the state, while representatives from various transport unions pointed their fingers at the government for not taking up maintenance and renovation works at regular intervals. 

Sidelined AIADMK leader, TTV Dinakaran, in a statement, said that the government should have allotted funds for the Transport department. 

“During the last budget in March, Transport Minister MR Vijaya Bhaskar met me and complained that Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami did not allocate enough funds to the transport department and funds are being released to CM’s portfolio and other departments,” he said. 

He also condemned the government for such an activity. Founder-president of PMK, Dr S Ramadoss, in a statement, demanded that the ‘benami’ government step aside, as it was responsible for the tragedy. 

“It is very sad that eight workers were killed and 14 others were injured.” he said and blamed the government and officials for the incident. Stating that the government should form an expert committee to prevent such incidents in the coming days, Ramadoss pointed out that “many bus depots across the state are in a dilapidated condition.”

Similarly, G Ramakrishnan, state secretary, CPM, said, “The government should take stern action against officials. Even though the union members had already submitted a petition to the transport officials regarding renovation works, the officials turned it down.” 

Likewise, R Mutharasan, state secretary, CPI, said, “The incident is a clear indication that the government machinery is not working. There should be a proper probe and the perpetrators brought to book.” 

General Secretary of MDMK, Vaiko, urged the government to provide Rs 10 lakh to the kin of deceased. “Further, the government should provide jobs for the family of the dead,” he demanded. Speaking to DT Next, M Shanmugam, general secretary of Labour Progressive Federation, said “ We have complained many times to the directorate of Health and Safety to look into the issue and take up renovation works, but in vain.”