Chennai: Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami today said necessary actions have been taken to address the water scarcity issue in the State.
Speaking to mediapersons at Madurai airport, he said, the lack of monsoon rains has led to the present drought-like condition.
“Steps were taken to tackle this issue even before the elections were announced and the officials concerned have been briefed about the measures needed to be taken. The District Collectors have been instructed to ensure drinking water supply regularly wherever it is needed and the same is being followed now. The necessary funds to carry out these works have also been sanctioned already,” he added.
Palaniswami also denied Anna University Vice Chancellor M K Surappa’s reported claim that there is political interference in the varsity works. Later, Surappa also said that the government is cooperating to the institution.
Answering on a question raised on Makkal Needhi Maiam president Kamal Haasan’s controversial statement about Ghodse, Palaniswami said he cannot talk about the issue as the High Court has refrained people from speaking about it.
“It would be better if politicians speak by following the election norms. If that is done, then such controversies can be avoided,” he added.
Meanwhile, as the campaigning of the by-polls in four Assembly seats ends today evening, Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, in a joint press statement, asked the voters to vote for AIADMK and make the party win by a huge margin.
The various welfare schemes implemented by the government were listed in the release by the joint coordinator and coordinator of the AIADMK.
“People should vote for the two leaves symbol of the party and make the party candidates for the four assembly constituencies to win by a huge margin and show that people have their trust on this government,” the release stated.
The by-polls for the four constituencies – Sulur, Aravakurichi, Thiruparankundram and Ottapidaram will be held 19 May along with the last phase of the Lok Sabha elections. In Thiruparankundram and Sulur, by-polls are necessitated by the deaths of two AIADMK MLAs while Aravakurichi and Ottapidaram became vacant after disqualification of two other AIADMK legislators. Nominations for the constituencies began 22 April and the last date for withdrawal of nomination was 2 May. The results of the election will be announced 23 May.