Residents of 30 families of Annanagar in the K.K. Nagar area falling under the corporation ward No. 42 have devised a special technique for resolving the problem of non-availability of water in their area.
Although a borewell was set up in the area, it became defunct a couple of years ago. Unperturbed over the trouble, the residents switched over to using the steady supply of water available from the pressure valve not far away from their residential area.
They all use the water for washing clothes and have a shower under the leaking main daily. An estimated 150 members, most of them construction workers from Manapparai, utilised the water from pressure valve.
“Our repeated petition to the corporation authorities has resulted in the drilling of a new borewell, along with a sump provided in the area. Unfortunately, the electric motor is yet to get power connection,” says Chinnakkal (53), a local resident.
P. Murugan and V. Kasi Viswanathan said more than the non-availability of water, the absence of public toilet was becoming a health hazard. Men, women, and children poop in the open in the early hours daily and the problem got worsened during monsoon.
The residents point out that choked drain was another health hazard for them.
V. Ramasamy, who has been residing in the area for the past 25 years, points out that they have to periodically spend on cleaning the drain. The residents plead for individual pipe connection for all the houses. Drinking water is now available only for those who could afford to incur a huge expenditure.
The location of the Annanagar on the border of ward no. 42 is said to be another factor for discrimination in terms of providing civic amenities, many complain.
The row of houses in front of them had been provided with adequate amenities, they rue.
