Disappointed with the High Court order to resume supply of the Tamirabarani water to co-packers of PepsiCo and Coca Cola in Gangaikondan Industrial Promotion Centre near here, members of Left parties and other organisations staged a demonstration on the Collectorate premises on Monday and submitted a petition to Collector M. Karunakaran, urging him to stop the supply of river water to the multinational companies as the “district is facing the worst-ever drought”.
The protesters said the reservoirs in the district had 62% water during this period last year. But the situation was grave now as the dams had only 14% water that would seriously affect farming operations and drinking water supply.
While most farmers did not take up agricultural operations, those who cultivated crops had suffered unprecedented loss, they said.
“While the residents of Thoothukudi and Kovilpatti, all getting water from Tamirabarani Combined Drinking Water Schemes, are supplied water once in a month, residents of Tenkasi are getting water once in 10 days. This is due to the drought-like situation prevailing in the district owing to monsoon failure. Hence, the decision to give several lakhs of litres of water every day to the soft drink units will seriously affect drinking water supply to the public,” said K.G. Bhaskaran, district secretary, Communist Party of India (Marxist).
The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court’s recent order in favour of resuming water supply to the two soft drink bottling units would seriously affect the supply of drinking water to several lakh people living in Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi and Virudhunagar districts, they added.
“Various political parties, social organisations and the public have been protesting against this verdict for the last five days since the ruling will worsen the situation. Hence, the agreement signed between TWAD Board and these companies, assuring them of supply of water from the Tamirabharani, should be withdrawn,” Mr. Bhaskaran stressed.
Members of the Communist Party of India, CPI (Marxist-Leninist), Manithaneya Makkal Katchi, Tirunelveli District Traders’ Association and Confederation of Residents’ Welfare Associations participated in the demonstration.
Raising slogans to highlight their demand, the protesters were carrying balance, with soft drink bottles in one of the two pans, in their hands.
Since more than 250 protesters participated in the demonstration, it triggered a heated argument between them and the police for a while.
