Paramakudi villagers walk 3 km for water

The condition is so severe is villages surrounding Paramakudi that people walk over 3 km for drinking water. They fear they may face a more severe crisis in the coming months. 

Ramanathapuram is an arid district where the Vaigai river drains in the sea. When water from the river is released, it fills up minor water bodies in the district. There are more than 3,000 small ‘ooranis’ and over 1,000 big water tanks in the district. However, except some 50-odd tanks, most have gone bone dry. 

People of many villages are forced to search for water in the neighbouring areas. Sivakumar of Achuthanvayal near Ramanathapuram said they are forced to walk more than a kilometre for drinking water. In the summer, the scarcity would be more severe and they do not have much options.