The Hindu : Nungambakkam residents complain of water contamination

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 21, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu-Chennai

Nungambakkam residents complain of water contamination

By R. Sujatha

CHENNAI MAY 20. Residents from as far as Ennore and Mogappair, Anna Nagar, Ambattur and Taramani attended the Water Exnora meet to discuss irregular supply, contamination and corruption in providing Metrowater connections and the like. The meet, held in T. Nagar, was represented by the Area Engineer and the deputy AE of division 8, the hydro geologist and rainwater experts from the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board among others.

Some had success stories, while the rest had problems to which they wanted solutions. Residents living in the MMDA plots in Mogappair East are paying Rs. 5 per pot to the local `bigwig', when it should be supplied free. In the Anna Nagar West extension area, the diversion of water from tankers to wayside teashops and as `IAS officer quota' for a handsome price was stopped, thanks to the cooperation of the residents of the area. Now, the women here manage the supply to the 11 tanks in the area.

A resident of CIT Colony said that despite repeated complaints to the authorities no action was taken, but when he `paid' an official the connection was given immediately.

Quite a few residents from Bharathi Nagar and Nungambakkam brought bottles of water to prove that they had to contend with contaminated water. The Metrowater authorities said when pipes break they were identified and isolated. Works were undertaken and the supply restored. Metrowater officials said they would conduct workshops for the construction of RWH structures in any area provided there were 25 people. A resident of Koyambedu pointed out that the RWH structure had in fact contaminated the well water supply. P. Subramanian, Hydrologist with CMWSSB, said contamination occurs only when the water level was above the well water table. A resident of Ennore wanted the Government to look into the pollution of groundwater by chemicals let out by the factories.

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Nungambakkam residents complain of water contamination