The issue over supply of discoloured water to the residents of various parts of the city refuses to die down as the complaints continue to pour in.
There were incidents of people visiting the Tiruchirapalli City Corporation Office and zonal offices with bottles of discoloured water to prove their complaints over the recent past. Many of them have also petitioned the officials to take urgent measures to set the issue right. Though isolated incidents of supply of muddy or sewage mixed water were reported in the past, it was from May this year, when the Corporation started supplying water to some parts of Tiruchi from the collector wells located on the Coleroon River, the issue has become more pronounced.
The wells were part of the augmentation scheme taken up to supply water to the extended areas and also to increase the per capita drinking water supply to 135 litres a day. It was also aimed at ensuring equitable distribution to all parts of the city. Ever since the inauguration of the augmentation scheme, residents say that enough supply has been received in most of the covered areas, except some stray cases here and there. The Corporation has also been providing new connections on demand. However, many residents complain that they still continue to get discoloured water, though there is a marginable improvement in the past few weeks.
It is said that the issue has been reported in several pockets of Old Palpannai, Senthaneeerpuram, Sangiliandapuram, Ponmalaipatti, Khaja Nagar, Khajamalai, Ayyappa Nagar, Sundar Nagar, and K.K.Nagar areas. “I got the water connection about five years ago. The water supplied was clean until May this year. Since then, however, I am getting discoloured water. The rate of sedimentation is also high,” says S.Raj Mohan, a resident of Mahalakshmi Nagar East Extension.
K.C.M.C.R. Selvarathinam of the same area said that most of the residents had been receiving poor quality water, raising concerns over possible health issues. When contacted, V.P. Thandapani, Commissioner, Tiruchirapalli City Corporation, told The Hindu that quality of water was extremely good at the pumping station and Over Head Tanks. The King Institute that conducted sample tests on water quality had certified that the water was potable. The iron content was also at permissible level.
However, problems might have surfaced wherever interlinking was provided recently. Even in those areas where complaints have been received, there has been marked improvement lately, he said and assured that officials would immediately act on complaints from residents.
