CHENNAI: Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Sunday made a whirlwind tour to inspect relief activities in flood-hit areas in Chennai and its suburbs and gave an assurance that a permanent solution would be put in place to avert flooding in future. “A plan is being formulated to establish drain facilities to flush out stormwater as part of a permanent solution. Once the project work is completed, flooding will not be there,” he told reporters after inspecting various places.
He said that eviction of encroachments made on water bodies and water courses is being taken up as per the directives of the Supreme Court and High Court. “Encroachments are being removed not only during monsoon season, but also in the normal course,” he said adding that the displaced people are being provided alternative accommodation.
Palaniswami promised residents of Chitlapakkam that a new storm water drain would be laid across Tambaram-Velachery Road to flush out surplus water from Selaiyur and Chitlapakkam lakes.He gave an ex-gratia of `4 lakh each to families of Lokesh and Kishore Kumar who died when lightning struck them.