Frustrated Residents Take to the Streets Over Water Woes
In a dramatic display of frustration, the residents of Sengadu in Coimbatore's Papanaickenpalayam area brought traffic to a standstill on Saturday evening. Their demand was clear and urgent: a regular and reliable supply of drinking water. The community, located in ward 49, has been grappling with an inconsistent water supply for over a month, pushing them to resort to a road blockade as a final plea for action.
The Protest: Empty Pots and a Blocked Road
The protestors chose a symbolic and powerful method to voice their grievances. They gathered on the road in front of the Government Polytechnic College for Women, blocking it completely. Their primary tools of protest were empty water pots, starkly representing the scarcity they face daily. The residents stated that the water supply to their area has been highly irregular for the past thirty days, making it impossible to meet basic household needs.
Despite repeated appeals, their situation remained unchanged. The community had submitted several petitions to their local ward councilor and other concerned municipal officials. Unfortunately, these formal complaints had not yielded any positive results or concrete solutions, leaving them feeling ignored and helpless.
Consequences and Police Intervention
The road blockade had an immediate and severe impact on the locality. It caused significant traffic congestion, disrupting movement in the area for a considerable duration. The growing chaos forced the local police to step in and initiate talks with the agitating residents.
After negotiations, the protestors agreed to disperse. The police assured them that appropriate action would be taken to address their water supply problems. While this promise brought a temporary end to the protest, the residents of Sengadu are now waiting to see tangible improvements on the ground, hoping their month-long struggle for a fundamental resource will finally be over.
