Chennai: It’s inevitable to say that waterbodies in Madipakkam and surrounding neighourhoods will soon be among very few sources of drinking water to Chennaiites, as Chennai Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) is planning to tap stored rain water from reservoirs in Nanmangalam Reserve Forest.
But even before the government could quench the thirst of city residents, private tanker lorrys are in the process of extracting water illegally from wells that are present in private lands near the forest.
Thanks to Sholinganallur Tahsildar Nirmala, the racket has finally been busted.
Nirmala paid a surprise visit to Kovilambakkam on 14 January and was successfully able to seize two tanker lorries.
The incident happened when they were illegally extracting water from a well at the 200-feet Radial Road in Kovilambakkam.
Speaking to News Today, Guberan, a resident of Kovilambakkam, said, I was not at the spot when the incident happened, but I highly appreciate the Tahsildars surprise move.
Most of these tankers operate in the wee hours which made it difficult for officials to nab them all this while.
No one here opposes water extraction.
There are a lot of waterbodies outside the city like Maduranthangam and Chengalpet which are good sources of drinking water.
Residents alleged that he has been allowing illegal water extraction for over 15 years now.