In areas that fall under Ward 98 of the Coimbatore Corporation the Coimbatore Corporation supplies water only once in 25 days.
In a few places in Ward 96, the Corporation supplies water once in 30 days, says resident Sabari Balu. In other wards in Kurichi (wards 94 to 100), the story is more or less the same.
The corporation, however, says that all is well as far as water distribution in Kurichi goes and disruptions, if any, have been due to extraneous reasons - pipelines were damaged due to Highways Department widening the Pollachi road, power cut at pumping stations and power disruption due to tree fall near the Pilloor reservoir.
And, on such occasions, it has addressed the issue by supplying water through tankers, and adds that it has been supplying 35 lakh litres a day of Aliyar water and 40 lakh litres of Pilloor water.
The reasons the corporation has proffered may be true but its management of water distribution is poor, complain residents. The Corporation has been diverting water meant for Kurichi to other areas, says N. Prabhakaran, a resident.
He recently led a protest against poor water supply in the seven wards.
The residents say another reason for poor water distribution is the Corporation failing to check the rampant illegal water tapping by residents using motors.
The corporation a fortnight ago issued a release warning of action against persons using motors to illegally draw water but the follow-up action appears to be missing.
Engineers in-charge of water supply say that they have thus far seized 300 motors but had to return most of those due to political interference.
Soon after they seize motors from residents in areas where the water supply is under way, they get calls from politicians asking for the motors to be returned. After taking a written apology, they are forced to return the motors, the engineers say on condition of anonymity.
Their estimation is that there could a few thousand motors in the area.
Corporation officials say they will initiate stringent action against illegal tapping to improve water supply to residents.
