Water-starved villagers block Ambur-Pernambut road, demand regular supply

Veerankuppam village near Ambur witnessed a road blockade on Wednesday morning as residents, largely women, protested against the irregular supply of drinking water. The demonstration on the Ambur-Pernambut Main Road came as parched lakes and ponds pushed groundwater levels down, drying up wells and borewells in the area.

The village, comprising three hamlets and about 2,500 families, has been grappling with soaring temperatures in recent weeks. Locals said the panchayat had not been providing water to households, including street-corner tanks, on a regular basis. Many residents were forced to travel 5-10 km to Ambur or Pernambut towns to fetch pots of water for daily use.

"The panchayat has completely stopped water supply to households in the hamlet since several days. As groundwater in the area is salty, we depend on water provided by the civic body for consumption," said R. Sumitha, a resident.

The blockade began around 8 a.m. Police and revenue officials arrived at the spot and pacified the agitators, who dispersed peacefully after authorities assured action. A revenue official said panchayat officials have been instructed to ensure regular water supply without delay.

Panchayat officials said the village requires over one lakh litres of water daily for household consumption. The supply is drawn primarily from two borewells in the village and another in neighbouring Venkatasamuthiram, where groundwater is both abundant and potable. Water from these sources is pumped to four overhead tanks.

However, a borewell in one hamlet had gone defunct weeks ago due to falling groundwater levels. Pump sets were repaired after residents complained. Officials said affected families live in tail-end areas, and efforts were underway to restore supply to those regions.