Pilferage from supply lines keeps Metro Water officials on toes

The Chennai Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) is having a tough time preventing such thefts from its pipelines even as officials claimed that a recent crackdown over the illegal suction of water using electric motor has helped in keeping offenders at bay. 

According to metro water officials, the board has received a plethora of complaints especially from areas in and around Villivakkam that they were not getting water supply in their houses. So, the officials checked the pipelines and found them to be in proper condition. This raised suspicion and a crackdown was launched during which officials found out that water was being pilfered using power motors by several residents, a senior official of CMWSSB said. The official added that three households on Bajanaikoil street of Villivakkam were found violating the norms.

Senior CMWSSB officials have instructed all assistant engineers to monitor all zones constantly and take strict action against those resorting to such malpractice. 

Meanwhile, water experts have demanded the metro water board to constitute a special team to monitor all the households that have metro water connections.