Alleging irregularities in the ₹400-crore kudimaramathu scheme, Opposition Leader M.K. Stalin on Wednesday demanded that the State government come out with a White Paper on fund allocation, its utilisation and the execution of projects across the State.
“I openly charge that malpractices have taken place in the kudimaramathu works. Payouts have been made by way of commissions from the fund allocated for the scheme,” Mr. Stalin told reporters after inspecting desilting work at Santhurani pond at Gundur near here.
He was accompanied by former Minister K.N. Nehru and Tiruverumbur MLA Anbil Mahesh.
In case the State government denies his charge, it should come out with a White Paper on fund allocation to various villages and water bodies. It should have detailed information on execution of the projects, he added.
Taking strong exception to the purported statement made by Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami in Salem after a review meeting, that rain water had been effectively harnessed due to the rehabilitation of water bodies under the kudimaramathu scheme, Mr. Stalin said there was no truth in it.
He said that his party had approached the High Court not to stop the byelection to the R.K. Nagar Assembly constituency, but to seek the deletion of names of bogus voters. Moreover, the DMK had sought action against those involved in the distribution of money to the voters, which was detected by the Income Tax officials in the run-up to the countermanded R.K. Nagar bypoll. The DMK was ready to face the byelection any time, he said.
Mr. Stalin alleged that instead of taking his statements seriously, the State Ministers spent time ridiculing him.
Condoles deaths
The DMK leader alleged that the State government’s failure in making adequate preparations for the monsoon had led to the electrocution of two girls in Kodungaiyur.
“They are the victims of the government's indifference to my warning. I express my condolences to the families of the girls,” Mr. Stalin said.