Contamination: Metrowater official summoned to court

“Encroachments preventing water from draining through Five Holes bridge”

Petitioner claims black water gushed out of tap in his house last November

The Madras High Court has directed the General Manager of the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board to be present in court on Thursday in connection with a public interest litigation petition seeking a direction to authorities to prevent contamination of the city’s drinking water with drainage water.

In the petition, which came up before the First Bench, comprising Chief Justice A.P.Shah and Justice F.M.Ibrahim Kalifulla, petitioner P. Cholaraja of Villivakkam submitted that the people of Chennai were using contaminated water supplied by the Board.

He said owing to encroachments on government lands and constructions, water could not drain through the Five Holes bridge at Villivakkam. During the heavy rain in November last year, drainage and flood waters flowing from the Ambattur side via Korattur could not pass through the bridge as encroachers had broken the Metrowater pipeline.

The contamination would affect the health of city residents.

The petitioner said when he opened the drinking water tap in his house in November last year, he was shocked to find black water gushing out. He represented before the respondents, including the Secretary, Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, and the Chairman and Managing Director of the Board, to visit the spot and take immediate action, but this was not done.

He sought a direction to authorities to prevent the mixing of drainage water in the drinking water pipeline at the Five Holes bridge.