Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) president Anbumani Ramadoss accused the DMK government of releasing water from the Sathanur Dam into the Thenpennai River without proper warning to residents along its banks, which he claims contributed to the widespread devastation.
Ramadoss also strongly criticized the ruling DMK government, urging them to focus on providing disaster relief and ensuring timely release of funds, rather than engaging in political theatrics during such a critical time.
PMK chief Ramadoss made these remarks after visiting the flood-hit areas of Marakkanam on 2 December 2024. He stated that the sudden release of 1.70 lakh cusecs of water left people unprepared and affected nearly 90% of Cuddalore district. He also pointed out that this action contradicted a previous promise by Chief Minister MK Stalin, who had criticized the AIADMK government in 2015 for releasing water from the Chembarambakkam Lake without notice, pledging that the DMK would not repeat such mistakes.
Anbumani Ramadoss criticized Chief Minister MK Stalin’s government, accusing him of boasting about his own efforts while blaming the previous ADMK regime. He remarked,“Yesterday, the Chief Minister tweeted, what of tweet was it? he tweeted about how many people died during the previous ADMK regime because the Chembarambakkam lake was opened at night while people were sleeping. But he tweeted that our regime is not like that. However, today, at around 2 a.m., 1.70 lakh cusecs of water per second from Sathanur Lake, no one knows this news. As a result, 90% of the houses along the banks of Cuddalore district, especially in the city, are submerged. People have lost their belongings, and the extent of the loss of life is still unknown. The Thenpennai River bed and its banks are flooded, causing significant damage because the public was unaware of this, but he blames the ADMK. Both are to blame. The public needs to be informed about this. I don’t want to do politics in this. This is not the time to boast that we are doing this much. This is the time to help the people.”
கடலூர் மக்கள் தூங்கிக்கொண்டு இருந்த போது இரவு 2 மணிக்கு எந்தவித எச்சரிக்கையும் செய்யாமல் தமிழக அரசு சாத்தனூர் அணையில் இருந்து 170000 கஅடி நீர் திறந்துவிடபட்டது தான் இவ்வளவு பெரிய இழப்புக்கு காரணம் .
– @draramadoss #cuddaloreflood pic.twitter.com/PU7LGKuSyI— Kshatriyan (@Tnagainstnaxals) December 2, 2024
Further, Anbumani criticized the government’s flood mitigation efforts, arguing that they have been primarily focused on Chennai, while other regions remain neglected. He emphasized that the government should not rely solely on central funds for disaster relief, advocating for a dedicated budget allocation for such emergencies, given that floods are an annual occurrence. He also stressed the need for more accurate weather forecasts, highlighting that the unexpected heavy rainfall in Villupuram, which recorded 50 cm, caught authorities off guard.
Anbumani highlighted the exceptional rainfall in Uthangarai, Krishnagiri district, where 50 cm fell within 24 hours, marking the highest recorded in 300 years. He explained that this extreme weather has severely affected hundreds of villages and inundated thousands of homes, causing immense distress to the people.
While acknowledging the historical nature of the rainfall, Anbumani attributed the severity of the floods to the government’s failure to properly desilt water bodies and waterways. He questioned the whereabouts of funds allocated for desilting, noting that the government has yet to announce any relief for the affected populations. He also cited the tragic landslide in Tiruvannamalai, where seven people were trapped, and rescue teams could not reach them even after 18 hours, as an example of the challenges faced in the current crisis.
The PMK leader called for an immediate increase in rescue and relief efforts, urging the government to mobilize more personnel to assist in the response. He cited rainfall data from various regions, such as 33 cm in Harur, Dharmapuri district, and 32 cm in Tirupalapanthal, Kallakurichi, underscoring the urgent need for swift intervention to prevent further loss of life.
Anbumani also drew attention to the destruction in Krishnagiri, where vehicles were swept away by the floods, and road access was completely cut off along the Tirupattur-Tiruvannamalai stretch. He further pointed to severe flooding along the Sarabanga River in Salem and the Thenpennai River, which runs from Krishnagiri to Cuddalore, and demanded that the government take immediate steps to restore normalcy in these affected areas.
(With inputs from DTNext)
Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.