A group of women from Thadhanaickenpatti village laid siege to the Collectorate here on Monday, carrying empty pots and demanding resumption of drinking water supply to their village. They also demanded illegal tapping of drinking water by farm owners be stopped.
The women alleged that water supply to their village was erratic for a long time. Neither the village panchayat nor the district administration took any initiative to resume drinking water supply.
Neelamalaikottai panchayat had been drawing water from a drinking water source from a hilly area, three km away the village, through pipeline. Farm owners on the way to the village broke the pipeline and illegally drew water for irrigation. With breaches developing frequently in the main pipeline, sufficient quantum of water did not reach the village for distribution to all residents, they alleged.
Despite repeated appeals, the panchayat administration did not take any steps to stop such illegal tapping, they said, and appealed to district administration take steps against those drawing water illegally. Later, they withdrew the agitation after the officials assured them of necessary action.
The women then submitted a petition to Collector T.N. Hariharan, who said he would look into the issue.
