TN rules out probe into water release from Chembarambakkam

Tamil Nadu government today ruled out a probe into the release of excess water from Chembarambakkam Reservoir here during the recent floods as it dismissed as "imaginary and defamatory" the charges by opposition in the state assembly.
For the second consecutive day today, the assembly witnessed debate over release of surplus water from the reservoir which has become a politically hot issue after Opposition parties alleged mismanagement in outflow.
CPI(M) floor leader A Soundararajan said his party did not fully agree with the government's view on release of water from Chembarambakkam Reservoir. But he asked if there was no negligence in the State's handling of the situation.

Citing PWD and Finance Minister O Panneerselvam's elaborate reply over the issue yesterday in the House, Electricity Minister Natham R Viswanathan said Tamil Nadu had "strange politicians who demanded inquiry for what was a natural calamity".
He asserted that the charge was imaginary and said CPI(M) was trying to make a mountain out of a mole hill.
Yesterday, DMK had alleged that the surplus water from the dam was not released at the appropriate time, but Panneerselvam had dismissed the charges as imaginary.

Soundararajan asked if "accepting what the government says meant democracy", and wondered why should not the State constitute a judicial commission of inquiry when there was disagreement of views.

Intervening, Panneerselvam hit out at the CPI(M) for spreading lies, and defamatory views. "If you think that such a stance would fetch you votes, you are mistaken, it is a wrong calculation as people are aware of the truth," he said.
He reiterated that there was absolutely no violation of any rule, no slackness (in taking action) and relief work was carried out appropriately.
Countering the CPI(M) member, he said people were duly warned before release of waters from water bodies.
He wondered if the CPI(M) member meant to say that people were taken to relief camps without warning them beforehand about the release of water.