Reportedly even while Chennai is waiting to receive its 10 MLD/day water from Jolarpet via train from July 7, the Tamilnadu Private Water Tanker Lorry Owners’ Association has announced an indefinite strike beginning July 8. Furthermore the announcement came soon after close to 40 water tankers were reportedly seized at Parivakkam village in Tiruvallur district where villagers alleged that they are plundering their groundwater.
Meanwhile the private tankers were tapping water from farm wells in the area. In June this year, the Madras High Court had reiterated that tapping groundwater water illegally was equivalent to theft. P Saravanan, coordinator of Tamilnadu Water Lorry Owners’ Association, as saying, “This is not the first such incident. We are harassed almost every day by the government, revenue officials and police for drawing water from villages. A few days ago, tankers were seized at Bangarampettai. In Tiruporur, about 10 tankers were seized. Last week, notices were issued to private tanker owners in Erode asking them to not draw water from villages. Unless the government resolves this issue, we will go ahead with the strike.”
Moreover the Association’s state president, Nijalingam, has said that due to insufficient groundwater, private water tankers have not been able to draw water from anywhere. Apparently he also adds that their requests to meet with the authorities have also not been heeded and if the government were to point out places from where they can draw water, they will be able to function without a hitch.
