Citizen Connect: Low groundwater level, faulty borewell lead to acute water shortage in Tirupukuli

The residents claim that the groundwater has completely dried up and that the panchayat does not supply drinking water.

Located near GST Road, the village includes Baluchety Chatiram, Anna Nagar, Agaram and Irular colony, and is famous for the Vijayaragavar Perumal temple, which is patronised by thousands of devotees.

Villagers claim that the groundwater has been drained completely over the past few years and with no supply of drinking water from the panchayat, the water crisis has further aggravated.

“Most of our villagers have sold their goats and sheep as they couldn’t provide them with water. The situation is worse in Agaram as the malfunctioning borewell motor has not been repaired for six months now. Though the residents have petitioned the Tahsildar and the BDO, no action was taken,” said Suguna Mary, an advocate from Tirupukuli village.

She added that though this village has a historical significance, it is now slowly getting destroyed as the ground water has dried up. “At least five more borewells should be laid so that there is enough water,” Mary said.

Last week, the residents even staged a protest with empty cans at the Kancheepuram district Collectorate, demanding the Collector to take action. When contacted, Kancheepuram BDO Raj Kumar said that the village’s groundwater level is very low and that the Collector has ordered to dig a borewell there. “Until then, we have decided to supply water to the villages,” he said.