Water tankers threaten with strike again

The latest strike is to protest the police filing cases against lorry owners and confiscating 10 vehicles, said N Nijalingam, president, Tamil Nadu Private Tanker Operators Association.

“Even though there is no precedence of filing case for tapping groundwater, Otteri police near Vandalur filed the case. The government has formed a committee to earmark the areas from where groundwater can be drawn. How can the police action when the process is ongoing,” he asked.

Residents of gated communities along the Old Mahabalipuram Road and Sholinganallur were the worst hit in October when the association stopped operation demanding the government to approve them to draw groundwater.

According to Nijalingam, the private tankers supply water to south Chennai, Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram districts. “Nearly 12,000 tanker lorries of various capacities are part of our association. Each of the lorries ferry at least three to four loads of water to various parts, supplying several lakh litres of water every day,” he said.