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Metro Water officials keep mum as tankers flout norms
The Chennai Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) officials, which has been cracking the whip against water pilferage in the city, have overlooked its own Metro Water filling points where tankers on contract are involved in illegal practices such as drawing more water than the specified limits, flouting scheduled timings etc.
Chennai
Reliable sources told DTNext that these contract Metro Water tankers do not follow the guidelines of CMWSSB.
“The owners of the lorries should take a Demand Draft (DD) to get the tanker filled. But, most of them do not follow this rule. The officials concerned are hand-in-glove with the lorry owners and help them get their tankers filled,” a source said.
Many of these tankers do not reach their registered destinations to supply water as per schedule. They instead go to other places or construction sites. The owners fill water beyond the prescribed levels as well.
“Sometime, the owners take a DD for filling 6,000 litres, but bring a lorry which has a capacity of 9,000 litres. Though such incidents have been taking place right in front of officials, they never bother to take action against the tanker lorry owners,” a staff said on condition of anonymity.
The city has total of 40 filling points. A total of 520 tanker lorries come to these points and make 5,500 trips a day. Each tanker has to fill water, cover an area within a three to four km radius from the filling point and return within the prescribed time.
“If any of the lorries return late to the point, its service must be suspended. However, many lorries do not stick to the time schedule and return to the filling point whenever they want,” said a CMWSSB official on condition of anonymity.
According to the Metro Water board, the tankers should not supply to apartments, construction sites or other commercial establishments. Water should be supplied only to residents.
However, denying the allegations, a senior CMWSSB official said, “We continuously monitor the filling points and take action against tanker owners, who flout the norms.” We would conduct surprise raids in all the filling points in the city and stern action will be taken against errant lorry owners and officers.”
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