Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore   

TWAD Board staff allege fraud

Special Correspondent

LOUD PROTEST: Members of the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board Workers' Sangham stage a demonstration in the city on Tuesday to condemn alleged irregularities in the maintenance of water schemes. Photo: S. Siva Saravanan

COIMBATORE: Employees of the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage (TWAD) Board staged a demonstration here on Tuesday alleging irregularities to the tune of Rs. 3.4 crores in maintenance of water schemes. The charges pertained mostly to maintenance of Pilloor drinking water scheme that covered the eastern parts of the city and more than 500 panchayats.

Blaming some officials for the irregularities, the TWAD Board Workers' Sangham, Coimbatore-Nilgiris, said problems in water supply due to this had affected nearly two-lakh people.

The Sangham alleged that Pilloor water was provided for irrigating farms in Kattanji Hills and information on this was suppressed by these officials. It also alleged that a shortage of 70 million litres a day of Pilloor water was claimed by officials while substantial amount was diverted to industries.

Instead of making a balanced supply of drinking water according to the population, some panchayats were given special treatment with additional supply. The Sangham also alleged anti-worker attitude on the part of the officials as they took action against those who pointed out deficiencies in maintenance of schemes. More than 10 Sangham members had been victims of such "vindictive" action.

Instead of wasting precious money on appeals, the Board could abide by court orders and release arrears to workers. Instead, it cited shortage of funds and held back payment. It charged some officials with protecting those involved in irregularities by providing wrong information to top officials of the Board.

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