Avadi civic body rapped for delay in water scheme

Taking strong exception to the Municipality’s submission that it requires another 18 months to complete the project, the first bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice R.Mahadevan, said “We call upon the Avadi Municipality to devise a methodology to ensure that these connections are given quickly and submit a compliance report before us in this behalf. We would also monitor the matter to ensure that there is no further delay.” 

The bench then listed the matter for reporting compliance on December 16. PIL moved N Babu Ganesh of Avadi, who had moved a Public Interest Litigation in this regard had contended that the project aimed at providing drinking water connections to households within the Avadi Municipality areas was provided funds from the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission and was scheduled to be completed within 2 years. But with nothing much happening in the two years, public were forced to resort to agitations. 

Subsequently, persons in residential areas with coverage more than certain amount of square feet were asked to deposit amounts. But even thereafter the position remained the same with no clear-cut answer emerging as to when the project would be completed. He further submitted that even a query under the Right to Information Act failed to reveal as to when exactly the project would be completed except stating that the ‘work is under progress’. 

However, in 2011 public announcements claimed that 77 per cent of the work has been completed and metro water will be supplied to Avadi from Puzhal lake shortly, he added. 100 connections given Interestingly, during the hearing, the counsel appearing on behalf of the Avadi Municipality submitted that 95 percent of the work was over and 100 connections have been given during the last one week alone. However, the bench on finding out that the Municipality can issue only 1000 connections per month, took strong exception to it. It pointed out that as per its submission it will take another 18 months to complete the remaining 18,000 pending applications while the whole project had to be completed within two years.