BJP seeks white paper on opening of dams

Says flood in Kerala was not a natural calamity but a man-made catastrophe

The BJP has demanded a white paper on the opening of dams alleging that the recent flood is not a natural calamity, but a man-made catastrophe.

“Ignorance and indolence of the LDF government have led to the disaster leaving nearly 15 lakh Keralites as refugees. It is a tragedy triggered by the unscientific opening of dam shutters. Officials or administrators responsible for this should be charged with murder,” BJP national executive member P.K. Krishnadas said here on Tuesday.

The BJP also demanded a probe into the causes of the flood by a Central team comprising experts. “Five national institutes had alerted the State government about this but the government decided to make more money by generating power. We could have prevented the disaster had we released water from the dams in different stages. So we demand a white paper on the precautions taken, alerts issued, and meetings conducted prior to the opening of shutters,” he said.

Mr. Krishnadas said the BJP would approach the Green Tribunal to avoid such casualties in the future. Talking about the ₹700-crore aid from the UAE, he said it was nothing but an eyewash to divert public outrage. “Instead of demanding money from the Central government, we should prepare detail project reports.”

He also demanded proper monitoring and audit of the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund. “Instead of spending the tsunami and Ockhi funds in disaster-hit coastal regions, both the fronts had splurged it the way they liked. They even diverted it to places like Malappuram and Pala.”

Mr. Krishnadas alleged that the Opposition had totally vanished from the scene during the floods. “Apart from regular press briefing, there was no contribution from the part of the Congress. They have proved that the Opposition is a total failure,” he said.