Tension gripped Poomparai village panchayat on upper Kodaikanal hill as a section of villagers vociferously protested over an attempt to divert drinking water from panchayat’s overhead tank for construction of a private cottage.
They removed the pipes laid from the tank to the construction site and closed a channel dug by the private people to draw water from the OHT, the only drinking water source to Poomparai and nearby villages.
The Kodaikanal panchayat union had constructed an OHT at Poomparai Kai Katti area to store water pumped from Gundar water reservoir to supply drinking water to villages at Poomparai panchayat.
Meanwhile, a section of workers on Monday dug a channel and laid a pipeline connecting the tank and the private cottage construction site to draw water from the OHT for construction work.
Acting on information about tapping of drinking water for construction purpose, residents swung into action, closed the channel along the road and also removed pipelines.
They staged demonstration at the village condemning the anti-people attitude of block development officer and panchayat officials.
They charged that workers engaged in pipe laying work only after getting consent from union officials and panchayat secretary. The BDO and Panchayat secretary permitted private people to draw water violating all rules and regulations, they alleged.
Intensify agitation
If the district administration failed to stop the attempt to draw water from the tank for other purposes and take action against the union and panchayat officials, they would intensify the agitation tomorrow, they also cautioned.
Now, several villages on upper Kodaikanal hill have been reeling under acute crisis owing to failure of monsoon.
Water supply from OHT was the only source to meet drinking water needs of this panchayat. Diversion of water for other purposes would affect the village, the villagers deplored.