Cleared – mani
Chennai: People’s representatives like MLAs should not obstruct encroachment-removal drives in waterbodies by considering the encroachers are voters, said Tamil Nadu water resources department (WRD) minister Duraimurugan on Monday.
Duraimurugan, who inspected the Chembarambakkam reservoir, said drives against encroachments are immediately politicised. The moment they begin to survey a waterbody, they have to deal with multiple issues, including those of MLAs who see encroachers as voters, he said.
Recollecting a recent drive, Duraimurugan said about 100 people gathered during the demolition and stopped it. Even the MLAs said their votes were affected when the department touched houses of encroachers. “In such cases, people’s representatives must not see their constituency votes being affected, and encroachments must be removed,” he said.
Noting that the tank is polluted by constant sewage, Duraimurugan said, “a private hospital is letting sewage into the reservoir. We also fought in the court, and the court asked us to inspect again.” Even the river Palar has been polluted with garbage near Vaniyambadi, he said and urged people to have responsibility.
Responding to a question about Pillaipakkam and Sriperambudur lakes not being desilted, leading to more water entering the reservoir, Duraimurugan said the department does not have funds to restore all the 40,000 lakes maintained by it at once. “We are focusing on the critical ones,” he added.
The water-holding capacity in Chembarambakkam has been reduced from 95% to 78% to keep it ready for the upcoming rains. The reservoir is having an inflow of 1700 cubic feet per second (cusec) while its discharge was at 6,000 cusecs.
Residents in low-lying areas along the Adyar River course of Sirukalathur, Kavanur, Kundrathur, Thirumudivakkam, Vazhuthiyambedu, Thiruneermalai, and other villages have been advised to stay alert.
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