Don't give Kovai water supply contract to foreign firm: DMK

Hundreds of DMK workers led by MLA N Karthik gathered in front of the South Taluk Office on Friday morning protesting against the water supply project being handed over to SUEZ Company.

The firm is likely to take over the water supply for 60 wards in Coimbatore Corporation for next 26 years. According to the agreement, it would conduct a survey for a year, implement the scheme by creating infrastructure for four years and carry out maintenance works for the next 21 years. The protesting DMK cadres alleged that it will lead to irregularities.

“In the absence of an elected council, how did the Corporation hand over such a massive project to a foreign firm without holding a public hearing or seeking the opinion of elected legislators? Water supply has never been vested in the hands of private players anywhere else,” Karthik told reporters.

Stating that there is no transparency in the project involving huge costs, the MLA demanded the state government to immediately cancel it.

“The round the clock water project was proposed and a resolution was passed in the Corporation council by the DMK in 2010. A proposal was also sent to the state and the Union government seeking funds to implement it. The scheme was then put in the back burner and got revived after eight years. But our contention is that shouldn’t be given to a foreign firm,” the MLA added.

The DMK has decided to intensify its protest against the water supply project until it gets cancelled.