Chennai takes to streets, demands water

CHENNAI: Chennai’s poor are finally on the streets demanding their share of water. Residents of five localities in north Chennai staged flash protests between 8.30am and 10am on Thursday and brought traffic to a grinding halt.
If four flash protests in Kasimedu, Royapuram, Korukkupet areas kept police on their toes, at New Washermenpet, 200 residents of Poondi Thangammal Street, Bujjammal Street and Avur Muthiah Street gathered on Surya Narayanan Salai near Kasimedu and sat on the middle of the road.With traffic piled up for 2km, police diverted vehicles and sent a team to pacify the residents. Nearby, around 100 residents from Irusappan Street protested with empty pots. They demanded drinking water that, they said, was due on Thursday.
The anger spilled on to Veera Ragavan Salai, Ashok Nagar, Chezhian Nagar where residents blocked traffic. With tempers running high, personnel from nearby police stations, Kasimedu Fishing Harbour and Thiruvottiyur, were deployed.
Around 2km away, residents from Nethaji Nagar and Tondiarpet went to the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board office in Patel Nagar and protested, demanding that officials distribute drinking water immediately to Ezhil Nagar, Korukkupet and Tondiarpet areas.
Police said TWAD board supplies drinking water to Tondiarpet, Vinoba Nagar, Korukkupet and nearby areas through 20 tankers every day. “Amid the scarcity, the trips have come down. The tanker driver refused to distribute water on Thursday because residents are stopping the tankers and demanding water,” he said.
At Red Hills, residents of Mathura Mettupalayam targeted a private firm that supplies bubble top cans. They said groundwater level in the area has gone down ever since the firm was set up last year. They gathered in front of the firm and blocked vehicles leaving its premises. Later, police calmed the residents and promised to take up the issue with higher authorities.
“We raised the issue in January and February with revenue and TWAD board officials and asked them to take steps to ban the company. But no action has been initiated. This forced us to protest in front of the company,” said M Prabhakaran of Mathura Mettupalayam.
After an hour, the protesters dispersed but based on instructions from police the firm temporarily shut down.