Citizen Connect: Medavakkam residents forced to pay stiff bills on water as borewells run dry

The Medavakkam village panchayat comes under St Thomas Mount Panchayat Union and is one of the important places in Southern Suburbs of Chennai. The area has 12 wards with 30,000 houses and a population of more than one lakh people. 

Many apartments and factories are also located in the area. As the city did not get much in the last monsoon, the groundwater level in the locality has gone too low and residents of Medavakam are put to great difficulty.

Residents said that the panchayat water, which was supplied once in two days earlier, is now supplied once in a month. When they enquired the village panchayat staff members regarding the water supply, they did not provide a proper response. The villagers even filed a petition with the St Thomas Mount Panchayat Union but even the officials there did not take any action.

A few days ago, hundreds of residents protested in front of Medavakkam village panchayat seeking regular water supply. Some of the protestors met the secretary in his office and demanded him to provide water for them. 

Suresh, a resident of Medavakkam, said, “We cannot afford tanker water as they charge double the money. The officials are collecting water tax without fail but they fail to supply water regularly.” 

When contacted, Medavakkam village panchayat secretary RS Babu said “We have 13 wells and 16 borewells in our control. We are getting supply worth of only four hours now. 

The groundwater level is too low and we are managing with what we have. There is a plan to construct 10 more borewells and the work is in progress. We have also advised the public to use water minimally.