Just 20 minute debate on water body encroachments

DMK legislator and former Chennai mayor M Subramanian who spoke on the flood mitigation measures, alleged large scale encroachment of water bodies in the current regime. The allegation triggered a heated exchange of words between the DMK and AIADMK when the Saidapet legislator accused that the state has usurped 50 cents of a lake to construct a police station in Thamaraikeni lake at Sholinganallur.

“Then the Porur lake which is also a source of water to Chennai is suffering encroachment and there is a petition pending in the court. I am not going into the legalities, but why is the state silent and not acting against encroachments and illegal constructions along waterways,” Subramanian asked.

To this, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami said that there were cases during the DMK regime where government buildings and flats were constructed on the lake beds. In Thiruninravur at Tiruvallur district, there was a massive flood in the government constructed housing plots constructed during the DMK regime.

Revenue Minister RB Udhayakumar in his reply denied the allegation of DMK MLA Subramanian and said that there were no encroachments on the Thamarakeni lake where the police station is constructed.

Earlier in the day, Saidapet MLA said more than 300 e-Seva centres were closed due to non-payment of salaries for temporary staff. Already the staff are underpaid with a meagre salary of Rs 5,600 and this is delayed in several centres. Further, there is a shortage of printers and toners.

When Revenue Minister intervened and said by and large that there are no salary delays, the DMK MLA asked the Minister to visit his constituency to get first-hand experiences on the closure of two e-seva centres due to poor administration by revenue officials.