Villagers flay illegal supply of water to lodges, shrimp farms

The residents staged a protest near the Rameswaram Taluk office and raised slogans against the private tanker lorries for exploiting the groundwater in Rameswaram. James Justin, CITU functionary from Thangachimadam, who led the protest, said the groundwater in Rameswaram is among the sweetest and it’s used by the residents and the neighbouring villages for drinking purpose.

However, the tanker lorries suck groundwater illegally and supply it to private lodges and shrimp farms in large quantities on a daily basis, though the water is used there for all purposes other than drinking. More than 200 tanker lorries are involved in the illegal supply of groundwater. Though a case was filed at the Madurai Bench and the court banned illegal use of groundwater for commercial purposes, the lorries continue to take water.