Metro Water tankers divert supply to commercial establishments

Coming to know of it, the Chennai Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board officials launched a crackdown and warned the violators. Officials also claim that they have caught a couple of tankers, while they were supplying water to a few construction sites in the city.

According to officials, the board has been constantly inspecting water supply, sewerage collection and drought contingency works in Greater Chennai City for ensuring quality service to the residents. 

“We inspected many areas in the city on last Tuesday. However, when we conducted a surprise raid in Valasaravakkam, we caught a Metro Water tanker diverting the load to a construction site on Mount-Poonthamallee Road, for an extra cost, following which we suspended the service of that operator,” said a senior official. He warned that severe action would be initiated on tanker lorries, hired by the board, which resort to such illegal diversion of their load in future. 

“We have set up a team to monitor the metro water tankers and drivers should communicate to us the details of their supply point after leaving the filling points,” explained another official. 

A member of Metro Water Tankers Association, told DTNext that the board was doing its duty and illegal supply was happening with the consent of certain officials from the board itself. 

“For instance, some officials are taking money from the contractors concerned of the buildings and owners of commercial establishments and in such a condition, the officials at the helm should actually monitor such officials, who are doing field works so that malpractice of the present nature will come to an end,” he said. 

Meanwhile, such incidents have created ripple of worries among the public. “We are getting water once in a week and the officials should take necessary actions to ensure the uninterrupted supply in all the areas,” said M Kalaiselvan, a resident of Thondaiyarpet.