The Hindu               03.01.2014

Seven motors used for illegally pumping drinking water seized

Seven electric motors used by the residents in Sainathapuram and Viruppakshipuram areas of Vellore for illegally pumping drinking water from the distribution lines were seized by the authorities of Vellore Corporation on Thursday.

In view of the water scarcity in many areas, most residents in whose houses the borewells have gone dry resort to the illegal practice of using motors to pump the water from the distribution whenever water is supplied by the Corporation.

According to residents of Sainathapuram, many borewells in their area up to a depth of 200 feet went dry during the months of November and December last forcing them to buy water to meet their non-consumption water needs. Some residents complained that there was no yield even if they dig for 300 feet. As far as the drinking water supply by the Corporation is concerned, they get water only once in 15 days. Many have installed reverse osmosis water purifier systems to convert the water stored in overhead tanks into drinking water.

The drinking water supply position is worse in Thorappadi where the residents have not got water in their pipes for nearly a month.

Janaki Raveendran, Commissioner of Vellore Corporation, said that while seven motors were seized from the residential areas of Sainathapuram and Viruppakshipuram on Thursday, the drinking water connection of one house was disconnected since the house-owner resisted the seizure of the motor.

As many as 200 motors were seized by the authorities in the last few months, she said.

The Hindu               03.01.2014

Corporation to hear residents out

Aloysius Xavier Lopez

Residents of all 200 wards will be able to air grievances over civic conditions; associations not on civic body’s list can also register

Chennai Corporation will organise a meeting with all residents’ welfare associations in the city this month to review existing civic conditions.

The meeting will give residents of all 200 wards an opportunity to air grievances over any deficiency in services provided by Corporation officials in the past few years. Representatives of at least 2,500 residents’ welfare associations are likely to participate.

“The meeting is likely to be held this month. Residents’ associations that are not on the list of the Chennai Corporation will also be permitted to register online. The venue will be announced shortly,” said an official.

The residents’ associations that have been registered with the civic body can submit the petitions to the officials concerned at the meeting. “Important civic issues will be discussed at the meeting. Residents can also give suggestions on important requirements for civic projects in any locality. We will incorporate some of the aspects in the budget announcement,” said the official.

Residents have welcomed the move. “This is an opportunity for residents to voice their opinion openly to senior officials without intervention by councillors. There have been some grievances in the past two years. Some officials have resolved our civic issues; some have not,” Viswamitra Kanuri, a resident of Kodambakkam, said.

“We spoke to the councillor for solving some of the civic problems. They are unable to take efforts. The meeting gives us hope,” said N. Arivazhagan, another resident.

A.Noorjahan, councillor of ward 121, said councillors were putting their best foot forward to tackle civic issues in their respective wards. “But some of the demands made by residents may not be easy to meet without support of all officials and the council. Some administrative aspects may impede civic development. So this meeting will be unique in solving some unsolved problems.”