Kozhikode: The Kerala High Court is likely to consider a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala seeking a judicial probe into the opening of dams in the wake unprecedented downpour in August, on Wednesday or Thursday.

Chennithala, at a press conference here on Wednesday, questioned the state government's move to rescind on starting a separate account for flood relief activities. He said a request had been made to constitute a tribunal for the disbursal of compensation to flood victims.

He said the deluge in Kerala was man-made. It occurred due to the opening of dams without adequate warnings being issued to the public. "The relief activities are not satisfactory in the state post flood. The government has failed to fulfil the promises made during the rescue operations. Those leaving the relief camps were offered Rs 10,000 as immediate aid.

However, a majority of victims were yet to receive it. Same is the case with the Rs one lakh interest-fee loan for purchase of household goods and the Rs 10 lakh loan for merchants and businessmen," he alleged.

"The state is totally relying on the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), which itself is in crisis. Nothing works at the KIIFB office, except the air-conditioning," he said.

He also condemned the 'salary challenge' issue where the government employees were 'threatened' to give their one month's salary. Chennithala demanded the withdrawal of hike in bus fare from Nilakkal to Pampa.

ISRO, Mani cases

Chennithala declined to comment on the recent Supreme Court order on the ISRO espionage case wherein scientist Nambi Narayanan would get a Rs 50-lakh compensation. He also refused comment on the allegations raised by former Congress leader K Karunakaran's daughter Padmaja Venugopal.

However, regarding the Vigilance court's observation on former finance minister KM Mani, Chennithala said the former minister was 'clean' and withstood probes during the tenure of both the United Democratic Front (UDF) and Left Democratic Front (LDF) governments.