Ambur on the boil over denial of drinking water

A case has been registered against 60 residents including 20 women in and around Ambur on Sunday after they blocked the Ambur- Pernambut road demanding water supply under the Hogenakkal Integrated Drinking Water Project which was announced to be stopped for maintenance.

The agitation took place after the announcement by the Vellore district administration that water supply to various habitations in the district under the Cauvery water would be stopped from June 8 to June 26 to undertake maintenance. This has infuriated the public who questioned the rationale of taking this step when the district is reeling under a water shortage.

The Umarabad police near Ambur have registration a case on the residents who participated in the protest under IPC Sections 143 (unlawful assembly) and 341 (wrongful restraint) on Monday. When asked regarding the same to a spectator, he told, “Why are cases being booked against them when it is the government who failed to respond despite repeated pleas?” 

There have been several cases of disappointed expressed by the public, demanding water supply with the officials being totally apathetic despite repeated appeals for succour over months. 

Road rokos at Madapalli near Tirupatthur, Velan near Ranipet and at Tuthipet in Perbambut panchayat union came after officials failed to act on the public’s demand for water. In all areas, agitations were withdrawn following assurances by panchayat officials and police that action would be taken. 

When asked why the situation was allowed to get out of hand, a senior official on condition of anonymity said, “Uncertainty of the government’s continuance followed by the parliamentary polls Model Code of Conduct (MCC) resulted in officials being unable to undertake any repair work.”

When contacted, Vellore Collector SA Raman said, “The district would not be affected much as almost all the areas have alternate sources for drinking water. The Cauvery scheme only augments the existing supply.” 

With agitations cropping up in various areas, a former government official expressed his discontent over the administration’s inability to tackled the crisis, stating that asking people to use water judiciously when there is no water is a sign of improper governance.