Municipal Administration minister KN Nehru explained that the amount for rainwater drainage works is not Rs 4,000 crore but Rs 5,166 crore. 4 districts namely chennai, Tiruvallur, kanchipuram and Chengalpattu experienced heavy rainfall on 2nd, 3rd and 4th due to Cyclone Migjam formed in the Bay of Bengal. Due to this, these 4 districts, especially the areas under the chennai Corporation, have been severely affected. Various infrastructure like roads, bridges, public buildings have been damaged. Due to heavy rain due to storm Migjam, water has stagnated in various parts of the capital chennai, even after 4 days of rain, the rain water is still not draining. Meanwhile, people living in low-lying areas have been rescued and accommodated in safe places and are being provided with necessary assistance. Medical camps are also being conducted to protect against the spread of diseases that may occur during the rainy season.

National Disaster Response Team and State Disaster Response Teams along with police, fire and rescue services and government departments are carrying out rapid rescue operations. chief minister Stalin is working directly in the field. The rescue work is going on fast under the supervision of ministers and senior government officials. Work is being done to remove the water quickly from the places where the water has accumulated.

However, opposition parties are blaming the ruling party. Alleging that the DMK government did not take precautionary measures properly, the opposition parties are questioning what happened to the rainwater drainage works undertaken at a cost of Rs 4,000 crore.

“The DMK government is deceiving the people by saying that the flood drainage works have been carried out in chennai city at an estimated cost of Rs 4,000 crore. Is the DMK government ready to issue a white paper regarding the list of completed works?” leader of Opposition Edappadi Palaniswami had questioned.

In this situation, Municipal Administration minister KN Nehru has explained that the amount for rainwater drainage works is not Rs.4,000 crore, but Rs.5,166 crore, of which only Rs.2,191 crore worth of works have been completed.

He met the media and said, "The total estimate of rainwater drainage works is Rs. 5,166 crores. But so far only rainwater drainage works worth Rs 2,191 crore have been completed. Work on the remaining Rs 3,000 crore will continue.” He said.

Also, “The length of Kosasthalai river drainage (AG-ADB Fund) is 769 km. The budget amount for that is Rs.3,220 crore. Out of which, 523 km work has been completed. For this, out of Rs.3,220 crore, Rs.1,903 crore has been spent and the works have been completed. Similarly, Kovalam Drainage (German bank Finance) length is 360 km. The budget amount for it is Rs. 1,714 crore. Out of that, the work has been completed for 162.72 km. The estimate for canal works for the length is Rs 232 crore, of which 47.78 km has been completed at a cost of Rs 68.35 crore.

This is the Rs.4000 crore that the opposition parties are saying. Now as per the list I mentioned, it comes to Rs.5,166 crore. 5,166 crores worth of work is yet to be completed. Works are in progress. So far only Rs.2191 crore has been spent. There is a balance. Work is going on for that.” The minister has also explained.

Earlier, “Some people are doing politics saying that chennai is floating even after spending Rs.4,000 crore. Let's not forget that it is the government's programs like these that allowed us to get through such a major natural disaster without major damage. During the AIADMK rule, no rainwater drainage was constructed. I don't want to politicize it by talking more about it.” It is noteworthy that chief minister Stalin had said.

Following minister KN Nehru's explanation, DMK minister KN Nehru said last month that the rainwater drainage works are 98% complete and have the capacity to drain 20 cm of rain in an hour. But he is saying that till now only 42% of the rainwater drainage works have been completed,” bjp state president annamalai questioned.