COIMBATORE: Water is big business in Coimbatore. Though illegal, it is a thriving business as the city corporation lacks the resources to meet the water needs of residents. That not all borewells yield sweet water too helps water traders. As hundreds of residents depend on this 'illegal trade", civic officials ignore their presence.

S Raju (name changed on request) is representative of the many water traders in the city. He services hundreds of families in Kovaipudur and P K Pudur. He claims to sell Siruvani water, a much desired commodity, to people at Rs 45 for a 35-litre can.

The business model is simple. Raju and three of his assistants begin the day at 5am and collect water from the nearest public tap and distribute the can in the locality on mopeds claiming it to be original Siruvani water. The water could be from Siruvani or Parambikulam-Aliyar. The Rs 45 he charges is "service charge" for the water. On an average, he gets 30 calls a day, mostly from households, and sometimes a few restaurants. "My consumers are extremely happy with my service and they don't mind paying my rate,'' Raju says. "I know the trade is illegal, but this is how I make ends meet," he adds. In areas like Vadavalli and Veerakeralam, where water shortage is extreme, charges per can go above Rs 100.

Like Raju, there are several others who supply water to households, shops and hotels in the city. A corporation official estimated the industry to be worth Rs 10 crore.

For residents the Rajus are a boon, "The water available in our borewell is contaminated. So we depend on the parallel water supply system. They are punctual and available on demand. Buying packaged water is expensive while the public taps are located far away,'' says R Pramod Kumar of P K Pudur. Customers are loyal to their suppliers and swear to secrecy regarding this illegal business. However, there are some who do not believe this parallel water system is illegal. "It is the failure of corporation in ensuring adequate water supply that has helped this parallel water system to thrive," says P V Rajagopalan from Vadavalli.

Construction sites too buy water from these sources. N Kannan (name changed), 29, supplies water in Thudiyalur. He supplies water via bullock carts to construction sites in the area and charges Rs 60 for 1,000 litre. "I charge Rs 70 or Rs 80 if the site is at a distance. As demand has rise, I have bought a load auto to supply water," he said.

A senior corporation official said the business has been going on for years and suppliers enjoy public support. Any action against them will invite public wrath, he said.

K Vijay Anand, 45, a native of Ooty uses a 12,000-litre lorry to supply water to sites in Vadamadurai, NGO Colony, Thoppampatti and Goundarmills. "We buy water for Rs 120 from people who have wells and bore-wells and sell the water for Rs 400 to Rs 500. It is not a very profitable business, but I earn enough for my family," adds Anand.