Stalin got his facts wrong: Minister

“Stalin seeks report for Rs 400 crore spent in Kudimaramathu, as he was told by his think tank. He could have at least verified facts before he went public with his comments,” the Minister said. The Minister further explained that they had rolled out the first phase of the scheme in which Rs 100 crore was spent towards renovating 1,199 water bodies administered by the PWD. “We are yet to release funds and the work orders for the second phase are expected to be issued only after this monsoon,” Udhayakumar said. 

However, Udhayakumar admitted to the fact that the renovation was undertaken by the DMK in over a dozen tanks across the state. But he also said, “Stalin’s claim of DMK’s role leading to the increase in storage facility in water bodies falls flat as there are over 14,000 water bodies that fall under the purview of the PWD.”

Regarding the permanent measures to be put in place to prevent water logging in lowlying areas, the Minister claimed that his department was already working on a detailed project report on the same and it would be submitted to the Chief Secretary as instructed by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami. Replying to a query on the building collapse on Rajaji Salai, Udhayakumar said that he rushed to the spot soon after the incident and ensured safety while clearing the debris as well. “We have already issued notices to as many as 17 such heritage buildings which are unsafe. Some had gone to Court against demolition. We will have to convince the Court about the impending safety concerns in those buildings and have to execute our orders based on the outcome of the Court’s orders,” he said. 

The Minister maintained that encroachment removal from water bodies is being prioritised, and will be expedited further.