Chembarambakkam water release: Karunanidhi dismisses government clarification, presses for probe

The DMK chief said while the issue had been raging for some time, State Chief Secretary K. Gnanadesikan had given a "make-up" explanation.

December 15, 2015 02:48 pm | Updated November 16, 2021 04:21 pm IST - Chennai

This November 24, 2015 photo shows water being released from the Chembarambakkam lake after it reached full capacity.

This November 24, 2015 photo shows water being released from the Chembarambakkam lake after it reached full capacity.

Continuing to target the ruling AIADMK over the issue of discharge of excess water from a city reservoir recently, the DMK on Tuesday slammed the Tamil Nadu government’s response on the matter and asked it to recommend a judicial probe if there were no wrongdoings.

DMK president M. Karunanidhi said while the issue had been raging for some time, State Chief Secretary K. Gnanadesikan had given a “make-up” explanation on Sunday, where he had denied any red-tapism.

Mr. Gnanadesikan had also slammed the “malicious” allegations by the Opposition that officers were awaiting Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa’s approval for releasing excess water.

The DMK and other opposition parties had alleged huge quantum of water released from the Chembarambakkam reservoir into the Adyar caused the unprecedented floods in the city in the wake of the torrential rains on December 1-2.

“If there were hard-hitting facts, the statement would have come in the name of the Chief Minister (Ms. Jayalalithaa). Instead, making the Chief Secretary do the reply shows that there are gaping holes (in the matter),” Mr. Karunanidhi said.

He wondered why the Chief Minister or Mr. Gnanadesikan had not convened a press conference to explain the situation and also questioned the delay in responding to the allegations made by opposition on the issue and also reports in this regard earlier.

He claimed there were discrepancies in the Chief Secretary’s statement about the quantum of release of water at different points of time and sought an explanation.

The DMK chief, who had submitted a memorandum to Governor K. Rosaiah demanding a judicial probe into the alleged delay in the opening of the dam, said if things had gone according to the book, the government should not shy away from constituting an inquiry commission to look into the matter.

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