Deccan Chronicle 20.01.2010

Drinking water going waste

Jan. 19: While the government insists that people save water, the Chennai metropolitan water supply and sewerage board (CMWSSB) authorities fail to understand the precious concept.

A large quantum of drinking water is now running off waste into the corporation stormwater drains at posh Abhiramapuram in the city and this leakage has been going unchecked for the last two months.

Though the monsoon bid farewell to the city a month ago, the stormwater drain running along the St Mary’s road continues to drain drinking water round-the-clock without the authorities showing any inclination to check the wastage.

“For the last few weeks, the situation has been going unchecked. Neither the Metro Water engineers nor corporation engineers are aware of the problem and no one knows the total quantity of drinking water that could have gone waste by this time,” said Mr Raj Kumar, a local.

An auto driver alleged that several residents were draining sewage into the stormwater drain and the situation was going unchecked in the neighbourhood for the last few months.

When quizzed about the problem, Mr S.V. Pandiarajan, chief engineer, operations and maintenance, CMWSSB, said the issue persisted because residents did not notify the department.

“Officials from the area office who visited the site late Tuesday evening have confirmed that the problem exists and that it was a result of leakage in the main pipeline. The problem would be rectified immediately,” Mr Pandiarajan assured.