Corruption allegation: EPS comes out in strong defence of Velumani

Chennai: AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Friday defended his former municipal administration minister S P Velumani against allegations of corruption in awarding contracts for stormwater drains and road projects. The case filed by Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) stems from a complaint by a private organisation, which Palaniswami claims has "no basis" and dates back several years. The AIADMK would confront the "false allegations" legally, he said.In a statement, the former chief minister cited numerous awards won by the municipal administration and rural development departments helmed by Velumani during his tenure between 2017 and 2021. Palaniswami alleged that chief minister M K Stalin was using the DVAC to divert public attention from issues such as increased taxes, the high cost of construction materials, deteriorating law and order, and the state's rising drug menace. "DMK regime's days are numbered," he said, "warning" the govt that it would answerable to people for running a dictatorial regime.Palaniswami recalled the steps taken by his govt to address the flooding issues in Chennai and its surrounding areas. He said an expert committee comprising IAS officers and engineers was set up to find permanent solutions to the damages caused by heavy flooding due to rivers from Andhra Pradesh and continuous heavy rain in 2015. Based on the committee's recommendations, the AIADMK govt initiated a 196km long integrated stormwater drain project and the restoration of water bodies in the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC)."Due to this, 306 waterlogged areas in 2015 reduced to three in 2020," he said.The AIADMK regime also undertook the desilting and restoration of 140 water bodies under the care of GCC and the water resources department. About 17,750 families residing along the banks of the Cooum and Adyar rivers were relocated to permanent housing in Perumbakkam, and the riverbanks were reinforced, he said.