Citizen Connect: Residents of Kanchi municipality go thirsty, as groundwater table depletes rapidly

With a population of more than two lakh in its 51 wards, Kancheepuram municipality is the biggest local body in the district. This year, the residents here are reeling under a crippling shortage of water even before the summer hit the peak. According to sources, the requirement is about 2.55 crore litres of water a day. But now, the availability is only about 1.95 lakh litre, that has taken a toll on the people.

This despite there being nearly 200 bore wells and public wells in Kancheepuram – all of which have gone dry due to the alarming fall in groundwater level this year.

A few days ago, residents protested in front of the municipality and collectorate on the Kancheepuram-Vandavasi Road with empty cans, asking the officials to ensure that water was supplied to them. Because of the sudden rise of water price, they were not able to buy it from outside, they added. For instance, the price of a can of drinking water has touched Rs 40 now, while the tanker operators have increased the rate to as high as Rs 1,500 from the earlier rate of Rs 850.

The people also alleged that some of the residents were using motors to draw water from the panchayat supply line, which is affecting the rest of the households here.

“The municipality should take immediate action to arrange water supply through lorries. We are suffering without water for even basic needs. We are not able to wash clothes even once a week,” lamented R Kumari, a resident of Kancheepuram.

When contacted, Kancheepuram Municipal Commissioner K Mahendran said the local body is planning for a new scheme, Tiruvannamalai-Kancheepuram Combined Drinking Water Scheme, and the preliminary work on it are underway. “The groundwater table has depleted completely. So the people need to adjust with the available water. Because water pressure has reduced, we are not able to supply it to areas that are at an elevated level,” the official said.