At a time when thousands of people in the town are facing severe water shortage owing to rampant tapping of water illegally from pipelines, two councillors (of wards 15 and 22) prevented officials from carrying out a drive against illegal tapping of water in Erode town on Wednesday.
The Corporation officials had received widespread complaints that a few persons were tapping water directly from the Corporation pipelines using pumpsets, which had severely affected water supply in almost all parts of the town.
Motor pumps seized
A team of officials conducted surprise checks in Ward 12, 15 and 22 and found many people tapping water illegally using pumps.
The officials seized a motor pump from a house in Ward 15.
But the councillor of the ward Karuppusamy (DMK) prevented the officials from carrying out the drive.
Dharna
He along with a group of people observed dharna protesting against the officials initiating action against those tapping water illegally.
Similarly, ward 22 councillor Vijaya Bhaskar (Congress) prevented the officials from carrying out the drive.
People in the town have resented the councillors' action.
“Councillors are supposed to represent our grievances in the Corporation and sort them out. They should ensure that people are provided with adequate amenities including drinking water.
But the councillors of Ward 22 and 15 are acting against the interests of the people, and supporting those who are violating rules. The district administration should take action against those working against the interests of the people,” residents demanded.
Initiate action
They also wanted Mayor Kumar Murugesh and the civic administration to take action against the elected representatives and those who prevented the officials from doing their job.
The Mayor said the action of the two councillors was wrong. “They should be working for the welfare of all people,” he said.
Senior officials in the Corporation lamented that a few councillors in the town continued to prevent them from doing their job.
“Since no action is being taken against the erring councillors, they continue to prevent us whenever we carry out the drive,” they said.
