Protest against poor water supply

Residents of seven wards of the Coimbatore Corporation (Wards 94 - 100) led by almost all political parties staged a protest at the Sundarapuram Four Roads Junction condemning poor water supply.

DMK’s Kurichi secretary N. Prabhakaran said that it was unfair on the part of the Corporation to discriminate against Kurichi residents by supplying potable only once in 25 - 30 days. The very civic body supplied water once in seven to 10 days to residents in wards in neighbouring Kuniamuthur.

Residents and political party representatives met the Corporation Commissioner K. Vijayakarthikeyan a few days ago seeking remedial action. He promised action but there was none in the last 20 days. To highlight their plight, the residents and political parties decided to take to the streets.

For the Kurichi residents, being a part of the Coimbatore Corporation had come at a heavy cost as the Corporation was unable to supply ground water as it was when the area was under the then Kurichi Municipality.

They were getting ground water only once in a week.

The residents were forced to look for water outside the area, the plight was worse as the ground water in the area was fast getting polluted, thanks to seepage from the dump yard in nearby Vellalore. The air too was polluted and flies swarmed the localities closer to the yard.

The Coimbatore Corporation should pay more attention to the problem in and around Kurichi, as even getting drinking water connection, property tax assessments and birth and death certificates were becoming increasingly difficult, the protesters said.

G. Madhusudhanan and K.P. Durai represented the Congress; Nagendran the CPI(M); A. Subramani the CPI; and Neela Manimaran the VCK.

Members of Dravidar Kazhagam, Kongunadu Makkal Desiya Katchi, Manithaneya Makkal Katchi and Indian Union Muslim League also participated.