In a span of four days, Corporation officials here have seized 138 motor pumpsets from dwellings on charges of illegal tapping of drinking water.
With successive monsoons having failed and poor storage level in the Vaigai reservoir, the Corporation has been exploring various alternatives to meet the drinking water demand of the city. From sinking borewells and distributing water through tankers to turn system for water supply, various means are being employed by the Corporation authorities to address the water scarcity issue.
As part of these initiatives, following complaints from residents, Corporation Commissioner Sandeep Nanduri formed seven teams of civic body personnel last week to check illegal tapping of water. Four days ago, the squads which fanned out to different locations in the city found that the pressure of water flow was high in certain dwellings alone and on random checks they found the residents were using motor pumpsets to suck water.
The seven teams led by Sarfudeen, Zahir, Mayilerinathan, Kasi, Manjula, Chitradevi and Kamaraj conducted raids on two days and seized 138 motor pumps used for illegal tapping of water.
An Assistant Engineer said that as per law, the seized motors would be auctioned and the money realised would go to the Corporation’s coffers.
A senior official at the Corporation’s newly opened control room at Anna Maaligai said public response to Corporation’s WhatsApp number 7449 104 104 was overwhelming. Over 40 per cent of complaints on illegal water tapping came through this mode, while the rest were gathered by the field staffs and through the landline number 0452 2525252.
Mr. Nanduri said stern action would be taken against illegal tapping of water. He appealed to the residents to cooperate with the Corporation at this difficult juncture and not to use motor pumpsets as the water flow would get stopped abruptly, besides depriving water to other residents.
