Suburban train services were affected on the Chennai Beach-Tiruvallur sector for a few hours on Friday as residents of Railway Quarters in Old Washermanpet, staged a rail roko demanding proper water supply.
Residents complained they had been reeling under a severe water crisis for almost two years. They claimed the underground sumps had been broken due to ongoing Metro Rail work.
Since then, piped water supply had been suspended by inspector of works, Southern Railway, and water from a well supplied to over 200 quarters in Old Washermenpet. E. Kotaiah, a resident of Railway Quarters, said, “This supply too has been stopped for almost a fortnight now. We are buying packaged drinking water.”
Residents said after repeatedly registering complaints with the concerned officials and failing to receive any response, they decided to stage a protest on the railway tracks.
Southern Railway officials came to the spot and pacified the protesters. Residents said the officials were now making alternate arrangements for supply through tankers.
