Alandur locals spend sleepless nights on roads for water

Some of the worst affected neighbourhoods are present in zone 12 and ward 160 in Alandur. “The situation is extremely bad in Marco Street, James Street, Parithivakam Street and Subramaina Swamy Koil Street. There are over five thousand families living in these areas and we have been suffering for the past one month,” said Sivakumar, a local resident.

The residents claimed that the public water tank in their locality was filled only two times a week with the help of tanker lorries. “However, we are not informed about when the lorry would arrive. So, we are forced to wait on the streets until midnight day after day waiting for the water,” the resident said on condition of anonymity.

As a result, the residents are forced to wait in the streets until late at night after returning from work, which in turn is affecting their normal routine creating health issues.

Sivakumar added that the pipelines supplying water to their homes have almost stopped functioning. “And if there is any water coming through the taps, it is in such a bad condition that we suspect the water to have mixed with sewage,” said another resident of Alandur.

The locals also alleged that the water meant for them was being diverted to commercial building and local businesses instead.

When contacted, zonal officer Ramamoorthy told DT NEXT that since the area comes under the city limits, water supply was being taken care of by the Metro Water Department. “We will take up the issue with them and take necessary action,” he said. Metro Water officials claimed that they were doing their best under the circumstances and will try to address the issue soon.