Over 300 people have died, several hundred have been critically injured, and thousands affected or displaced by the flooding that has ensued. (Reuters Photo)
Centre and Tamil Nadu government today came in for attack in Rajya Sabha over "lack of preparedness" to handle floods in Chennai, with CPI-M demanding judicial probe into release of excess rain water from a dam.
Participating in a short duration discussion on the 'Serious situation arising due to floods and drought in the country', CPI-M member TK Rangarajan attacked Tamil Nadu government, alleging "lack of preparedness to handle floods".
He demanded judicial inquiry into purported release of excess rain water from a dam at Chembarambakkam in Chennai, saying it resulted in the flooding of Adyar and its banks.
This drew loud protests by AIADMK members, whose party is in power in the state, even as Mr Rangarajan tried to clarify that he was demanding inquiry based on the information provided by Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar in today's Parliament reply.
"Javadekar in his reply today said that as per some reports, the rains and the excess water released from the dam at Chembarambakkam resulted in the flooding of Adyar, its banks and inundated its floodplain. Based on this information, I would like to demand judicial enquiry," Mr Rangarajan said.
He also said the state government was not prepared to face this kind of floods, though it had prior flood warnings.
Reacting sharply to this statement, AIADMK members said, "This is not correct". Navaneethakrishnan (AIADMK) said, "The minister's reply is wrong."
Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien said, "It is his view, why do you worry? You have informed the House the current position. That is on record."
As protests continued even after Mr Rangarajan completed his speech, CPM Secretary General Sitaram Yechury intervened saying, "You are disappointed with the minister. You can give notice. If it (information) is wrong, we will correct. He was repeating what minister was saying. Don't charge him."
The Chair also asked AIADMK to invoke the rule and give a notice on this issue, while Mr Yechury said the concerned minister should clarify this issue today itself.
Mr Rangarajan also sought the centre to submit a detailed report before the Rajya Sabha on the outcome of the visit of central teams to flood-hit areas in Tamil Nadu.
EMS Natchiappan (Congress) said that National Disaster Management Authority was not working properly and the Chennai flood was not detected properly even US agency NASA had given a report earlier apprehending such an eventuality there.
It was a "disaster management failure by Central government", he said.
AIADMK members lodged strong protest when he talked about the inability of the state government to handle the crisis. Natchiappan clarified that he was saying Centre did not equip the state government properly to meet the crisis.
"I am pleading for the government of Tamil Nadu. State government is not so much equipped. Government of India has not moved an inch. Central government did not give the message to Tamil Nadu governmemnt to evacuate the people...BJP government is not efficient enough to govern and help the people," he said.