TN minister refutes Arappor Iyakkam claim, says Metrowater board meet frequently

CHENNAI: Municipal administration minister S P Velumani on Wednesday refuted news reports which exposed Metrowater Board not being convened even once in the last two years, and claimed that the reports were based on “false information.”
A mandate in the Chennai Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board Act, 1978, states that the board of directors should meet at least once every three months.A TOI report on Tuesday, quoting information sourced through RTI by the social activism group Arappor Iyakkam, exposed how the last board meeting was convened in February 2016. The RTI reply issued by Metrowater showed how the board had not met even once since the present AIADMK government re-occupied the seat of power in May 2016.
On Wednesday, Velumani was in Villivakkam taking part in an inauguration event organised by the Greater Chennai Corporation for the Rs 16 crore Villivakkam tank restoration project. When questioned about the expose, Velumani said, "The news reports are based on false information. In fact, I have been chairing Metrowater meetings frequently. I would say every 10-15 days I meet the board's managing director and other officers."
Velumani, who is the chairman of Metrowater board by virtue of being the municipal administration minister, added that these "frequent meetings" were usually fruitful. "We process many files. Several other schemes and projects are under discussion. We have sought for approval from the central government to set up a 400 MLD desalination plant," Velumani said.
The minister's response, however, failed to cut ice with Jayaram Venkatesan, convenor of Arappor Iyakkam. "What the minister spoke is a plain lie. If they do hold frequent meetings, let the Metrowater Board furnish the minutes of these meetings. It was Metrowater that told me in the RTI that only three board meetings have happened since 2014," said Venkatesan.
Venkatesan added that a proper meeting attended by bureaucratic heads of different departments in their capacities as board directors would invite scrutiny over several projects sanctioned by Metrowater. "At present, all decisions are unilaterally made by the minister and rubber-stamped by the managing director," he said.
Arappor Iyakkam has written to the Metrowater MD urging him to convene a board meeting at the earliest. "If Metrowater fails to do so, we will be left with no option but to find a legal remedy," Venkatesan said.