Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 08, 2007
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Online edition of India's National Newspaper Wednesday, Aug 08, 2007 ePaper |
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Tamil Nadu
Staff Reporter
AMBUR: The decision of the Ambur Municipality to disconnect supply of drinking water from Serangal in Pernambut Block through common public taps has kicked off a controversy. Local Congress workers have resolved to mobilise 10,000-odd residents and stage a protest if the Municipality goes ahead with the proposal. The Municipal Councillors are also up in arms, as the municipality has taken a decision without prior approval from the Council. A. Sundaram, Commissioner, Ambur Municipality, told The Hindu that he has been forced to take the decision as residents of Ambur do not come forward to remit the deposit amount for the proposed home connections. The Municipality h as borrowed over Rs.6.50 crore for the Serangal Water Scheme. The Municipality has to recover the amount for repayment of the loan. E.Suresh Babu, president, Ambur Town Congress Committee, says the Municipality has issued a notice stating that they will disconnect the supply through common public taps on or before August 16. He said that before introdcing the Serangal Water Supply Scheme, the Municipality pumped water from the Palar in Pachaikuppam area into overhead tank in a prime location at Ambur. The stored water was supplied through pipelines. But the Municipality had stopped supplying water from Pachaikuppam seven years ago. One of the reasons was that effluents from the Ambur tanneries had polluted the drinking water source. As the quality of water turned saline, it was not fit for consumption. Then the Municipality introduced a scheme where water was supplied through pipelines to Ambur from Nariampattu near Pernambut. The water drawn from Nariampattu could not fulfil the requirements of the residents of Ambur town. The water from Nariampattu was suitable only for domestic use. The drinking water was supplied from private wells in Reddythoppu area. Not fit for consumption
Later, water from Reddythoppu too was found not fit for consumption. At this stage the Municipality chalked out a plan to supply water from Serangal. New wells were dug at Serangal and the water is now being supplied from Serangal in Pernambut. One of the residents says it is not justified to ask for the deposit for supply from Serangal. Over 60 per cent of the people in Ambur have paid the deposit for supply from Pachaikuppam. Though the Municipality has fixed Rs. 3,000 as deposit, in actual terms the residents will end up paying anywhere between Rs.7,000 and Rs.9,000 as the residents have to bear the charges for pipes, valves and road damage tax. He says that people living in slum areas such as A. Kaspa, B. Kaspa, Sandorkuppam, Mottukollai and Bethlehem will not be in a position to bear the cost. Mr. Sundaram says the Municipality will continue to supply Serangal Water through public taps in slum areas. The supply will be disconnected only in areas where the residents can afford to pay the deposit.
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