Residents of Edamalaipattipudur, a perennially water scarce area, are eagerly waiting for the commissioning of the new drinking water overhead tank (OHT) at Rajiv Gandhi Nagar. Although the OHT was built a few months ago as part of the new drinking water supply augmentation scheme for the city, residents are sore over the delay in supplying water from the tank. Residents say they are still getting only alternate-day supply.
Over the past several years, residents of ward 39, 40, and 41 in the area have been resorting to sporadic protests over the water shortage. Although the corporation has been tackling the situation by arranging water supply through tanker lorries, the problem has not been solved entirely. The new drinking water scheme, many felt, would solve their problem.
“We are anxiously awaiting the commissioning of the overhead tank and supply of water daily. We get supply hardly for 30 minutes on alternate days. Last year, plastic water tanks were placed at some places in the locality and was filled with water through tanker lorries. This is not adequate and not all the tanks are filled regularly. Even during the Pongal festival, we did not get regular water supply,” says N. Azhagusubramanian, general secretary, Federation of Residents Welfare Associations of Edamalaipattipudur. Although the corporation claims to be supplying about 68 million litres a day (MLD) from the new water scheme’s source on the Coleroon, the scheme is yet to be fully commissioned.
When contacted, a corporation official said steps were under way to commence supply through Rajiv Gandhi Nagar tank to the residents over the next few days. “Work on inter-linking of mains has to be carried out and we are preparing to supply water from the tank by next week,” he said.
Once water is supplied through the tank, residents of the area will get daily water supply. Besides, new water connections will be provided, the official said.
