Chennai floods: Central team’s endorsement shows we functioned efficiently, says Stalin

Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin hails Central team's endorsement of govt's efficient performance in handling Cyclone Michaung & Chennai floods.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Friday said the Central team’s endorsement of the manner in which the administration handled Cyclone Michaung and the Chennai floods, proved the government’s “efficient performance”.

In an interview with The Hindu, Mr. Stalin said the government would soon make public the report of the Thiruppugazh Committee on the long-term flood mitigation plans for Chennai and its surroundings. The government would also state the actions taken on the report and the status of the projects. “We are running an honest and transparent administration. We will also release a report on measures taken to control flood in Chennai and its neighbouring areas and the expenditure involved,” he said.

Asked if the government could have tackled the recent floods better, he said, “I always would like to do more for the people.”

Updating the status of the flood mitigation projects, he said the integrated stormwater drain (ISWD) project was completed for a length of 44.88 km along the Adyar and Cooum basin with ₹120 crore funding from the World Bank. Besides 50 km stormwater drain projects were implemented at a cost of ₹255 crore under Singara Chennai 2.0. In addition, 59.5 km project at a cost of ₹232 crore under State disaster management fund and 11 km project from the capital fund had been completed. The ₹700 crore projects reduced the damage in areas such as T. Nagar, Ashok Nagar, Ambattar, Valasaravakkam, Alandur and Pulianthope that suffered heavily during the 2015 flood.

“It is very vital to protect the entire marshland in Velachery as it plays a pivotal role in mitigating the flood damage. We will certainly reevaluate the usage of areas around Pallikaranai marshland. The forest department has taken measures to protect and expand the marshland,” he added.

The Chief Minister said the administration was preparing the Third Master Plan incorporating schemes to mitigate damage in Pallikaranai marshland and areas around it. “This will certainly pave way for the improvement of waterbodies and marshlands around Chennai,” he said.

Mr. Stalin rejected the charge that the government was sluggish in removing encroachments. “It is the stand of the government that all encroachments should be removed. Waterbodies and river basins should be protected from illegal encroachments. They should be cleaned and expanded,” he said.