Around 70,000 people reside within the Chitlapakkam town panchayat limits, which consists of 18 wards. Groundwater levels have sunk very low in 13 of the 18 wards due to which residents face a huge crisis and are forced to buy water from private sources.

To address this shortage, officials had planned to draw water from the Madambakkam town panchayat as according to them, there was enough water available at the Madambakkam big lake.

Subsequently, they started work on the Chitlapakkam-Madambakkam combined drinking water scheme at a estimated cost of Rs 3 crore. About two months back, three wells were dug up near the lake. As soon as the news spread among the residents of Madambakkam, they started to oppose the scheme claiming that they would not give water to Chitlapakkam.

Although Tambaram tahsildar and revenue officials tried to hold peace talks with the residents, the locals were not ready to share their water source.

Taken aback by this situation, Chitlapakkam residents say their counterparts in Madambakkam have no right to refuse as water bodies belonged to the government and could be used according for their needs.

Usha Sundar, a resident of Madambakkam, said, “Our intention is not to deny them water. The lake does not have enough water. Most of the lake is now encroached.”

Speaking to DT Next, Tambaram tahsildar Subulakshmi said, “We are trying to convince the residents of Madambakkam about the need to draw water from their lake and provided it to Chitlapakkam.”