Ambattur, believed to one of the suburban areas rich in groundwater, is also reeling under a severe water crisis. With a dip in the water table and a decrease in public water supply, residents of Ambattur complain that they are forking out a lot of money for a few pots of water.
Residents of Ambattur have now turned to water supplied by tankers as borewells have nearly gone dry.
They noted that the water supplied by Chennai Metrowater has also dwindled to once in three days.
S. Raghuraman, a resident of Venkatapuram, said several streets, including Murugappa Reddy Street, Kanniah Chetty Street and North and South Street, suffered due to acute water shortage as water supplied through street taps was not enough. Many private tankers sold water for Rs. 6 a pot.
“Metrowater must arrange for the supply of water by tankers every day to help residents meet the shortage,” he said.
Residents said they now used packaged drinking water for cooking too and this has meant spending Rs. 2,000 a month for a family.
V. Satyanarayanan of Venkatapuram said: “Water supplied through one street tap is shared by six houses. We fetch four pots on alternate days when water is supplied for half-an-hour. We find it hard to manage as our main source, groundwater, has dipped.”
These problems are encountered in other areas too.
Mangayarkarasi Prasad of Vijayalakshmipuram said there was no fixed time for supply of water on the streets or through tankers.
“If the stormwater drain is properly connected to Thangal lake, both the areas will have better groundwater recharge during the ensuing northeast monsoon,” she said. Sources in the Metrowater said the water agency had reorganised distribution to ensure all areas received water supply even during the severe water crisis.
Steps would be taken to increase tanker supply.
Residents have now turned to water supplied by tankers as borewells have nearly gone dry
