Urban News

Thanjavur, July 20: To ensure equitable distribution of potable water and prevent artificial water scarcity in the district, the administration has launched a crackdown on the illegal tapping of drinking water by unscrupulous persons using pumpset motors.

As a result, municipal authorities in Thanjavur, Kumbakonam and Pattukkottai conducted surprise checks at houses in their respective municipal areas and seized 65 motors used illegally for tapping drinking water. In all, 37 motors were seized in Pattukkottai municipal limit, 12 in Thanjavur municipal limit and 16 in Kumbakonam municipal limit, sources said.

Water scarcity prevails in a few areas in the district due to monsoon failure. Steps have now been taken on a war-footing to rectify the situation in the areas through equitable distribution of drinking water. The district administration has also directed the officials to immediately repair hand pumps in rural areas. The officials have been instructed to install more pumps on a need basis, collector M.S. Shanmugam said.

The Tamil Nadu Water and Drainage (TWAD) board officials have been instructed to monitor the uninterrupted water supply under the comprehensive water schemes in the district and take measures to distribute water with the help of generators in case of continuous power failure.

They have also been instructed to conduct surprise inspection at houses and find if anybody was tapping water with the help of motors in town panchayat and municipal areas.

The collector warned of criminal action against those found guilty, in addition to the seizure of the motors.