Thoothukudi: Drinking water scarcity is looming large over Thoothukudi, and people in most parts of the city are irked by non-availability of water.
It has been a long wait in front of overhead tanks and the main pumping station for many as water resources have dwindled owing to poor North-east monsoon rainfall.
Irritated with the erratic supply of drinking water, people with empty pots gathered on Palayamkottai Road opposite the main pumping station and Victoria Extension Road here on Monday, with empty pots, demanding supply of water.
Even after waiting for long hours in front of water sources, the people could collect only two pots of water, said S. Ramalakshmi, a resident of Auto Colony.
Corporation authorities should ensure water supply to residential localities through tankers. During November 2015, Thoothukudi was hit by flash floods. Had the authorities taken adequate measures to conserve the water, this crisis would not have arisen now, said R. Muthuvel, a resident of New Colony.
M. Krishnamurthy, environmental activist and District Coordinator, Unorganised Workers’ Federation, said water-guzzling industries had been severely affecting the lives of the people.
Welcoming the district administration’s order preventing industries from drawing water from the Tamirabharani, he said such industries should be closed during crises.
But at the same time, groundwater, which was the only and the last hope of the people, was being drawn indiscriminately by water tanker operators, who mainly cater to industries.
Mr. Krishnamurthy said the authorities concerned should monitor water supply to industries. Now, the situation turned grim as a pot of water was sold at Rs. 20. But even then, water was not easily available.
Around 10 thermal power plants were functioning in Thoothukudi, which had about 1,133 industries, and it required about 1.5 lakh litres of water to produceg 1000 MW of electricity, he said.
P. Velmurugan, a resident, said in 2013, the State government proposed to set up a 100 million litres per day (MLD) seawater desalination plant here, but there was no progress on that. Desalination plant was essential for Thoothukudi to overcome the water crisis, he stressed.
Executive Engineer of Thoothukudi Corporation A. Lakshmanan told The Hindu that apart from eight overhead tanks, temporary tanks were also supplying water to the public. A few water tankers were engaged to supply water to remote areas and eight more tankers would be added soon, he added.
