PMK floor leader in the Assembly Sowmiya Anbumani on Sunday inspected the ongoing construction at the Pallikaranai marshland, which the party has opposed, since it would “destroy” the marshland ecosystem.

Speaking to reporters, Ms. Sowmiya said the entire ecosystem consisting of fish, trees, aquatic plants would be destroyed. “The Pallikaranai Marshland acts as a floodwater drainage basin by storing water and helping replenish groundwater. Therefore, it is essential to protect this marshland. But contrary to this, the Tamil Nadu government is building a retaining wall, thereby putting residential areas at risk of being submerged in floods,” she said.

She said that there is no need to construct a concrete compound wall to protect the marshland and that a simple fence would be sufficient.

She added: “Is a walkway in the marshland really necessary after borrowing ₹21 crore? If a walkway is required, construct it outside the marshland. There is no need for one inside it. When the flood water arrives, there will be no way for the water to drain out because of the retaining wall. Residential areas in the surrounding neighbourhoods could be inundated with rainwater, causing severe damage. The risk of mosquito-borne infections and other diseases will also increase. Even with the intermittent rains we have been receiving over the past few days, water has already begun accumulating here.”

‘Step up surveillance’

Meanwhile, PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss flagged the need to strengthen police surveillance and intelligence operations, so that crimes such as ATM thefts does not occur in Tamil Nadu.

“In the suburban areas of Chennai alone, ATMs belonging to banks have been broken into and robbed at three locations in the past two weeks, with some of the ATM’s being taken away entirely. With the series of ATM robberies by robbers from north India causing considerable fear among the public, the failure of the police to prevent them is condemnable,” he said.

He added: “On the other hand, the brutal killing of a person named Kannan in Besant Nagar, Chennai, by a gang has also caused fear among the public. Kannan was an office-bearer of the ruling TVK and was reportedly involved in criminal cases, including murder. These incidents show no measures have been taken to prevent murders and robberies in Chennai and its suburban areas.”