In the wake of drinking water shortage in various villages of the district, the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) has set up a District Water Supply Monitoring Cell to take immediate steps to address water supply-related grievances.
According to a senior official, water scarcity is being reported in Manapparai, Marungapuri and Vaiyampatti blocks due to sharp decline in groundwater level. Drinking water issues have cropped up in Musiri and Thuraiyur blocks too.
The situation in nine other blocks seems to be compartiively better, the official said.
As far as Manapparai and Marungapuri unions are concerned, most of the villages have been covered by two major Combined Water Service Scheme (CWSS) from the Cauvery river. While a scheme covers Manapparai municipality and 50 other wayside habitations, another scheme is designed to supply water to about 3.50 lakh people living in 674 habitations in Manapparai, Marungapuri and Ponnampatti blocks.
According to sources, water is being supplied once in three days in Manapparai town and three to five days in the villages. There have been incidences of agitation in the recent past at Mettukadai, Koilpatti and Edapayapatti, demanding adequate water supply.
“We get water supply once in three days. It lasts just for half an hour. The situation is grim in rural areas. Though the situation is marginally better than the same period last year, the frequency of supply should be improved. More attention should be paid to ensuring adequate water supply to rural areas,” says Manavai. A. Tamil Manickam, a resident of Manapparai.
Stating that the situation was being closely monitored, Collector K. Rajamani told The Hindu that a District Water Supply Monitoring Cell had been constituted to collect inputs on water supply to all 404 village panchayats in the district. A team of officers would work from 7 a.m to 9 p.m Similarly, block-level monitoring cells and panchayat-level monitoring cells had also been set up.
Toll free number
The grievances of people on water supply would have to sent to the officers concerned immediately for needy steps. A dedicated toll free number-180042540851-had also been created to receive grievances.
Mr. Rajamani said the idea was to ensure equitable and regular distribution of water to the people. In addition to monitoring cells, a contingency plan had been designed. All problematic areas had been identified. A sum of ₹28 crore had been sanctioned to take up 3,325 drinking water works. Sinking of new bore wells, deepening of existing bore wells, rejuvenation of old bore wells, deepening of open wells, provision of hand pumps were among the plans.
Corporation Commissioner N. Ravichandran said there was no problem in distribution of drinking water to the residents of Tiruchi.
The situation was being closely monitored, he added.
