In the last four days, residents of a few areas in Chennai have complained of contaminated drinking water supply.
On Tuesday, residents of Buchammal Street in New Washermenpet protested as officials had failed to respond to their year-long demand to replace old drinking water pipelines.
“We have been getting contaminated drinking water for the last one year. Though we took up the issue with the Metrowater area office, no action was taken. We also complained with officials at the main office,” A. Devi, a resident said.
With no piped drinking water supply, residents are depending on lorries. “Women find it very difficult to carry pots of water every day up to the second or third floor of their homes,” she added.
As their pleas for action had failed to receive any response, the residents had planned to stage a road blockade on T.H. Road. “But officials have assured us they will be taking action. The pipelines are very old and need to be replaced. We will wait and see for two to three days to see if they will take up the work,” M. Nagarajan, another resident, said.
Residents of Pulianthope on Saturday protested that drinking water contaminated with sewage had been supplied. Following their protest, officials rectified the problem.
Residents of Saraswathi Street, Mahalingapuram, also said they were receiving sewage-mixed drinking water for the past two days. Sometimes, there were worms in the water, they said.
Sources in Chennai Metrowater said there was a delay in the interconnection work of the new pipelines laid on Tiruvottiyur High Road and Buchammal Street in New Washermenpet. The water agency was faced with a delay in getting permission for road cuts, they said, adding that supply to Buchammal Street would resume on Wednesday.
