The Hindu 18.05.2010
Drinking water shortage in Kancheepuram
V. Venkatasubramanian
| Duration of water supply reduced over last two months |
Photo: B. Jothi Ramalingam 
SHUT DOWN: A board with a message about the water shortage, placed at the entrance of a closed hotel in Kancheepuram. —
KANCHEEPURAM: Residents of Kancheepuram Municipality have started feeling the pinch of drinking water shortage with a sudden and steep reduction in daily water supply duration.
Normally, daily protected piped water supply would be maintained for two to three hours or even for four hours on weekends and on holidays. However, for the past two months the duration was gradually reduced and the supply restricted to an hour or 90 minutes depending on the quantum of water stored in overhead water supply tanks.
Enquiries reveal that a steep decline in collection wells sunk in river Palar at Thiruparkadal and Orikkai water supply head-works were the main reason for the current situation.
When contacted, civic body officials maintained that they were able to make “sufficient” supply of piped drinking water supply in the town.
Stringent measures such as seizure of mini-motor pumps to draw water from main supply lines, and disconnection of unauthorised water connections have helped the civic body from keeping the problem under control.
Scheduled power cuts effected by the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board have also compounded the problem as the power supply to pumping stations were snapped during crucial hours, the officials lamented.
Meanwhile, the packaged drinking water supply business has witnessed a boost in the town area as some of the hotels and small tiffin centres have started placing daily bulk orders with the suppliers. At the same time, some small eateries have preferred to shun their business for the time being in view of the water problem. Several tea shops have also switched over to use-and-throw products instead of glass or regular tumblers in order to avoid excess usage of water, sources said.
