These were the pointed questions raised by one of the participants at the Reader Connect programme on “Water Resources of Madurai - past, present and future,” organised here recently. “Our basic weakness is to exploit such resources to the maximum. When there is no concern for judicious usage of water, should we not meter the supply to put an end to its wastage,” Prof. Velrajan of Thiagarajar Engineering College asked.

It was totally unjustified to collect the same Rs. 418 (for domestic connections) as water charges from a family of two members and also from a family of 10. When people are ready to pay for the quantum of electricity they consume, they should also pay the same way for water also, he said.

Pointing to various measures suggested by the speakers at the meeting to augment water resources, he said that there would not be any need to add to existing water resources, if people start using the available resource judiciously. “Conservation is also one of the tools in better water supply management. It will benefit in the longer run,” he said.

A retired hydrologist from Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board, V.C. Ramakrishnan, expressed the same sentiments. “People do not know the value of water. We should create model areas in the city where metering should be made mandatory to study its utility,” he said.

Another participant, Kondappan, complained of illegal water tapping with the help of electric motor pumps. People were also wasting the treated water for gardening, he said. He suggested the Corporation officials to go in for surprise checks to prevent illegal tapping.

Responding to questions, the Corporation Commissioner, S. Sebastine, said that fixing water meters was one of the conditions under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission. However, he said, there was no quality water meter available in the market. “Besides, people also ensure that the meter does not work so that they will not be charged for their actual consumption,” he said.

Sewage issue

An engineer from the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage (TWAD) Board, Murali Manohar, expressed his concern over sewage water being allowed to drain in the storm water drainage under construction in the city. “It is supposed to source for the fresh water. Sewage should not be allowed into it,” he said. The Corporation Chief Engineer, K. Sakthivel, said that once the underground drainage works in the city was completed all sewage would be connected to the underground drainage.

Another participant, Jayakumar, wanted the local bodies to ensure that new residential areas coming up on the extension areas should have centralised rainwater harvesting structure. He suggested that bigger apartments should be made to provide facilities to treat waste water.

One of the participants, Kannan, complained about bursting of pipeline at frequent intervals near HMS Colony that led to wastage of drinking water.

J. Rajamohan of Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry wanted the local body to sink percolation borewells at regular intervals on the concrete bed of the storm water drains to help recharge of ground water. He said the cost could be borne by the local people.

The event was sponsored by State Bank of India.