Chennai: A prolonged struggle to get proper drinking water forced villagers in Kancheepuram district to detain a government bus for more than two hours on Saturday morning.
The officials finally released the bus on the promise of regular supply of water. Hundreds of men and women with empty pots blocked Madhuranthagam - L. Endathar Road and gheraoed a bus arrived on the road at 7.30 am.
According to villagers of Thandalam village near Madhuranthagam, local authorities had failed to provide drinking water for past one month. “Although the village had two wells and four mini tanks, lack of proper maintenance of motors pumps forced us to struggle to get water,” one of the villagers said. There are 500 houses in the village and a population of 1,500.
Meanwhile, passengers in the bus started to alight from the bus and found other means of transportation. On information, the local police, revenue officials, transport officials and civic body officials arrived at the spot and tried to pacify the protesters. But the villagers did not budge and demanded an immediate solution.
Sensing the situation, the officials sought two days to fix the motors and promised lorry water until the situation normalised. The villagers dispersed and warned of another protest if the officials fail to fulfil their promise at around 10 am.
