Ombudsman for Local Self-government Institutions M.R. Hariharan Nair has directed the District Collector to take steps to check the exploitation of groundwater in the Koliyoor and Muttacad areas by tanker lorry operators supplying water to various locations in the city.
The order was based on a petition filed by two residents of Muttacad, alleging that the operators were making profit by selling water siphoned off from wells in the area. The petitioners pointed out that this indiscriminate exploitation would deplete groundwater resources and lead to drinking water shortage.
During the hearing, the Venganoor grama panchayat Secretary said the Thiruvallam and Kovalam police stations had failed to act on his complaint. The Groundwater Department filed a report stating that the allegations raised in the petition were correct. It recommended cancellation of permits of the tanker lorries extracting water.
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