Madurai's Rs 1,687 Crore Water Project Fails Residents: Irregular Supply, Poor Quality
Residents in many areas of Madurai city are raising serious complaints about the Mullaperiyar Drinking Water project. They report irregular, unpredictable, and slow water flow. The water often arrives in an undrinkable state, causing widespread frustration.
Project Details and Promises
Chief Minister M K Stalin inaugurated this ambitious project on December 7 last year. The government implemented it at a substantial cost of Rs 1,687.5 crore. The project scope was extensive.
- It involved constructing a 93-kilometer drinking water pipeline from Lower Camp to the Pannaipatti water treatment plant.
- A 54-kilometer pipeline connects the treatment plant to Madurai city.
- Authorities also built a new 125 million liters per day (MLD) water treatment plant. This facility includes modern supervisory control and data acquisition systems.
The project aimed to provide water connections to a large number of households. It covered approximately 1.18 lakh connections in extension areas and another 1.63 lakh in the city's core areas.
Residents Voice Their Struggles
M Sivapandian, a resident of K K Nagar, shared his experience. "The supply worked regularly for about a month," he said. "But for the past ten days, we have received no water at all. When water does come, it is not safe for drinking."
D Raghavan, President of the Gomathipuram Residents' Association, echoed these concerns. He stated that people in his ward also face significant problems with water quality. "The water does not taste like proper drinking water," Raghavan explained. "It tastes more like the water from our local borewells."
He highlighted a recurring pattern. "Every time we report a complaint, officials fix the issue temporarily. It works for a few days, then the same problems crop up again. Many houses face repeated disruptions in their regular water supply."
Infrastructure Problems and Inconvenience
Another Gomathipuram resident, P Kalimuthu, described further difficulties. "We went without any water for several days," he said. "After numerous complaints, workers discovered a leakage in the underground pipes and repaired it. However, the repair work ruined the road surface on our street, causing additional inconvenience."
Reports indicate that water meters are still not installed in many localities. Areas like KK Nagar, Vandiyur, and Goripalayam face this issue. Residents also report improper installation of pipes and leakages at various points in the distribution network.
Official Response and Future Plans
A senior corporation official addressed some of these concerns. He confirmed that the administration is in talks with contractors. Their goal is to complete the installation of water meters across the entire city soon.
"Fluctuations in water pressure have caused some technical issues," the official stated. "Problems like leaks and pipe breaks have occurred. These incidents result in less-than-ideal water supply to certain areas."
He assured that authorities would rectify these issues promptly. The official added that the corporation's staff is responding to complaints and working to resolve problems as they arise.
The situation highlights a significant gap between a major infrastructure investment and its on-ground delivery for the people of Madurai.
