UGD contractors breaking pipelines, claim residents

MADURAI: Residents associations across the city have expressed disappointment at the UGD pipeline contractors of Madurai corporation, as they alleged that they are breaking the existing water pipelines and septic tanks while laying the new pipelines. The residents say that they are left without water supply as it takes more than a week for corporation officials to repair the existing pipelines.
R N Ilangovan, secretary of Duraisamy Nagar resident association said that three or four complaints are registered every week from Duraisamy Nagar to the corporation officials regarding broken water pipelines or septic tanks.“Many residents are forced to spend from their pockets to repair the broken pipelines as they are left without water supply,” said Ilangovan.
In Sadha Shiva Nagar, the contractors have even broken the septic tanks. “The contractors are not responding to us and if we tell them to repair, they say that they are not answerable to the residents but the officials. If we ask the officials, they take more than a week to repair the existing lines,” alleged A Ponnaiah, president of Sadha Shiva Nagar residents’ association.
The most affected areas are in the west and east zones, while few places in the north zone are also affected, say the councillors.
S Vasuki, Madurai east zonal chairperson said, “Councillors have raised the issue many times in the council meeting, in return the officials assured that they will prepare a list and instruct the contractors to repair the broken pipelines, but still many contractors are not repairing them.”
A UGD contractor said that many residents have constructed the septic tanks outside their plots and contractors are unaware of them while laying the pipelines. “All contractors are informed to repair the broken lines in at least three days, if not then action will be taken against them,” a senior corporation official said.