Source : The Hindu Date : 23.06.2009
Motors fitted in water connections to be seized
Staff Reporter
| Connection to the erring houses or commercial establishments to be cut off immediately: Mayor |
TIRUNELVELI: Informing that petition boxes would be kept in the zonal offices of Tirunelveli Corporation for receiving complaints regarding drinking water supply, Mayor A.L. Subramanian has announced adding that checks would be conducted to seize motors fitted in drinking water connections.
“Besides, the water connection to the erring houses or commercial establishments will be cut off immediately and legal proceedings initiated against them,” Mr. Subramanian informed at the council meeting held here on Monday.
Raising the issue of inadequate and erratic drinking water supply to the residents in various parts of the local body, Melapalayam Zone chairman S.S. Mohamed Maideen said a farmer near Melapalayam was tapping water from the main pipeline for his plantain saplings planted on over 10 acres even as the residents were running from pillar to post for drinking water.
The Assistant Executive Engineer, Melapalayam, Samuel Selvaraj said a police complaint had been given in this connection and the first information report would soon be registered.
To facilitate the filtration and increase the quantity of water being supplied by the infiltration wells, the Mayor asked the officials to initiate steps to heap sand around the wells.
Executive Engineer Narayanan Nair replied that the exercise had been suspended as the contractor identified for heaping the sand around infiltration wells failed to comply with the contract norms. “The contract has been cancelled and the contractor blacklisted. Soon the work will resume,” he assured.
Palayamkottai Zone chairman Suba. Seetharaman, councillor Revathi Ashok wanted the age-old distribution pipelines be replaced without further delay as there were frequent bursts.
The Mayor said finalization of tenders for two major drinking water projects worth Rs. 22.22 crore, for the benefit of wards 8, 9 and 10 and wards 19, 26 and 27, would be done shortly and hence these projects, designed to benefit peripheral areas, could be completed within 12 to 18 months.
“If the drinking water taken in lorries from the corporation reservoirs is sold to commercial establishments, the corporation personnel concerned will be suspended immediately. Similarly, the pumps fitted in the drinking water connections will also be seized and the people concerned will have to face legal action. I appeal to the councillors not to support these erring people,” Mr. Subramanian said.
Even before the council meeting started, a group of residents from Bharani Nagar submitted petition to the Mayor demanding regular supply of drinking water.