Water can price rises, licensed units allege pressure to join strike

Several vendors in the city have increased the price of water cans – as much as double in some cases – citing the strike that has led to a crippling shortage in supply, which is made worse by the threat from owners of illegal units who are allegedly asking the licensed suppliers to shut down in solidarity.

As many packaged drinking water production units in the city are closed, many suppliers are forced to travel long distance to get purified water. “I had to go to Periyapalayam to fetch water. So, we have increased the price of water,” said Vignesh, a water supplier, who was selling water using a load auto in Triplicane on Sunday.

Vignesh has increased the price by Rs 10 for a 20-litre can, from Rs 20 to Rs 30. It costs Rs 7 to purify and pack 20 litres of water, which is sold atRs 35 to Rs 40.

Besides the shortage, the vendors and suppliers say they also have to deal with intimidation. “Those part of illegal units are threatening us and the owners of licensed units to closed down and participate in the strike,” alleged and bubble-top can vendor from Kodambakkam.

But many shop owners are hesitant to hike the price for fear of losing regular customers. “If I increase the price citing the strike, it will create a bad reputation among customers. So I bear the additional expense of travelling and try to continue to supply water at the old rate itself,” said S Venkatesh, a retailer in Choolaimedu said.

“Most of the water can shops in T Nagar are closed down. I went to Ashok Nagar to buy purified water,” said Ramakrishnan, a West Mambalam resident.

Meanwhile, A Shakespeare, founder of Greater Tamil Nadu Packaged Drinking Water Manufacturers Association, said that the strike would continue till the government regularised all water units in the State. “All the units in other districts are closed down. But in Chennai, some of our members operate the units to meet the demand, as water is an essential commodity,” he added.