Poor planning and the callous attitude of Chennai Metro Water in executing a drinking water project for Madipakkam has upset locals.
Several houses in interior Madipakkam will not benefit from the project as the drinking water pipes being laid by Chennai Metro Water is well below their water sumps thus depriving them of supply.
According to locals, water sumps in several houses in Madipakkam had been built at a depth of five to six feet since the old pipes installed by the Madipakkam panchayat were just three feet from the surface.
Now that the pipes are being laid at 7-1/2 feet, the sumps constructed earlier will be rendered useless. The Corporation had failed to carry out a proper survey in the locality before laying the pipes, which have been designed against the natural flow of water, they said.
Moreover, lack of initiatives by the Madipakkam panchayat (now merged with the city Corporation) has forced residents to rely on private firms who continue to fleece the public by charging `1, 000 per water tanker.
Local Metro Water authorities are aware of the high maintenance costs incurred by residents but fail to provide potable water, complained residents.
“Water supply has not been regular in the area for the past few years. Hence we were forced to buy water. After the Corporation took over, we had hoped that our problems would be addressed.
But to our disappointment, the civic body failed to intimate us before laying drinking water pipes in the locality, leaving us in a lurch,” said Mr G. Krishnamurthy, resident of Madipakkam.
“It would cost at least Rs 5 lakh to deepen the existing sump. My family has to move out in order to pave way for the works. We are being put through severe hardships now. Several complaints to the authorities have proved futile. The Corporation must take steps to provide basic facilities as the locality is growing fast into an IT hub,” he added.
When contacted, Councillor of Ward 188, Mr Ponnusamy said, “The pipes were laid after conducting a proper survey by Chennai Metro Water officials. The project will benefit the residents of Madipakkam, technical problems, if any, will be rectified.”