It was a mix of joy and disappointment

It was a mix of joy and disappointment on the day when water from the Hogenakkal scheme flowed through taps in the two districts.

While the AIADMK cadre celebrated by bursting crackers and distributing sweets, people in many rural areas were upset that the water did not reach them.

K. Andi (60) is among the disappointed people of Mottupatti village in Pappireddipatti. For the last eight years, he has been suffering from a bone-related disease in the legs due to consumption of groundwater with high-level of fluoride.

Many officials and even a team from Japan photographed him while documenting the impact of fluoride. What provides some relief to him is the monthly financial assistance from the government for the last three years.

A recent survey by the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board found that the fluoride content in groundwater in Avarangattur, Elanthakottapatti and Mottupatti and surrounding village was at an alarming 10 mg per litre (permissible limit is 1.5 mg per litre of water).

A disillusioned P. Unnamalai (60) of Elanthakottappati village said many people were suffering from bone-related diseases due to abnormally high-level of fluoride in the groundwater. The only consolation for them was that, a fluoride filter was fitted in one of the tanks in Elanthakottapptti village. Two pots of water were being supplied from the filter every day for the last six months for drinking and cooking.

Though the officials from the Hogenakkal Drinking Water project claimed that they had given one hour water supply through the taps near an overhead tank opposite the Harur Government Hospital, the residents lamented that they got water for only 15 minutes.

R. Muthu (38) one of the residents of Anna Nagar and R. Madhamma of Katcheri Medu near the hospital said they hoped for regular supply at least under the new scheme.

According to officials, Hogenakkal water reached two municipalities and seven town panchayats and some rural pockets in Krishnagiri district on Wednesday. Water would reach the other areas soon, they said. TWAD Board officials said that supply for a short duration and water not reaching some pockets were typical problems faced on the first day of the commissioning of a scheme. Solutions would be found soon.