Drinking water goes down the drain at Hopes College Jn

Coimbatore: The feeder pipeline carrying potable water to Madukkarai panchayat has developed leaks at Hopes College junction on Masakalaipalayam Road for the third time in three months, resulting in the loss of thousands of litres of water.
A new leak is reported almost every month, said Sasi, a shopkeeper. “By the time one is fixed and the road is repaired, another leakage is reported at a nearby location. Water is stagnating in front of my shop, making it inconvenience for the customers to step in. I have to clean the place several times a day. Who will walk into an untidy shop?”
“Earlier, when we had ward councillors, we used to take the problems to their knowledge and they used to reach out to the officials and get the work done. As the local body elections have not been held from 2016, there are no councillors to take up such issues. Identifying and reaching out to the officials concerned itself has become a tedious task,” said another shopkeeper.
As the potholes on the stretch are filled with water, motorists are struggling, said R Meenakshi, a regular commuter. “Several two-wheeler riders fell on the road in the last couple of days,” she said.
An official with the Tamil Nadu Water and Drainage Board (TWAD) incharge of the pipeline said the leak would be fixed within a couple of days. “The pipeline, made up of asbestos cement, was laid way back in 1993. The joints had worn out. Leaks have developed at the joints due to vehicle movement and high pressure. We will have to replace the pipeline to prevent leakages permanently. We have already submitted a proposal to replace the pipeline for about 12km and are waiting for the government’s nod,” he told TOI.