Vaiko, general secretary of Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), visited Srivaikuntam dam on Sunday and took stock of the situation along with C. Nainar Kulasekaran, founder of Tamirabharani River Water Protection Federation in Tuticorin and party men.
He flayed the State government and the district administration for not taking steps to desilt the century-old dam in Srivaikuntam which is the lifeline of farmers and people.
It was through a public interest litigation under the initiative of the party’s district secretary, S. Joel, the problem was taken to the attention of the National Green Tribunal, which ordered that the State government could take up desilting works in the dam on June 11, if the Ministry of Environment and Forest did not permit execution of the work until June 10.
However, the Ministry gave its nod to desilt the dam on time.
Though the NGT passed a favourable order, the State government “ignored” it and did not even make any effort to start the work.
Condemning the delay in starting the work, the MDMK would stage a protest and launch desilting works on July 6, Mr. Vaiko told reporters.
Nazareth Durai, deputy general secretary, Mr. Joel and others accompanied him.
