Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) criticized the current Chief Minister M.K. Stalin over the handling of the recent heavy rains and flooding in the state’s delta region.EPS accused Stalin of merely sitting in the control room during the rainy season and managing relief efforts superficially without personally visiting the affected areas to oversee effective action.
EPS highlighted the severe damage caused by incessant rains and the ditwah cyclone that submerged large tracts of paddy fields and crops like banana, sugarcane, and betel leaves in delta and coastal districts, including Thanjavur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, and Tuticorin.
He emphasized that farmers had suffered massive losses as nearly two lakh acres of paddy fields were waterlogged and destroyed. He urged the Stalin government to take immediate relief measures and conduct field inspections through agriculture and revenue officials to properly assess damage and compensate farmers. EPS criticized the DMK government for neglecting pre-monsoon drainage cleaning and failing to implement rural water conservation work effectively, contributing to the heavy flooding.