Tamil Nadu: Faeces in Adi Dravidar village overhead water tank shocks community

Chennai: In a shocking incident, faeces was found in an village overhead water tank supplying drinking water to Adi Dravidar communities at Vengaivasal coming under Muthukadu Panchayat in Pudukottai district of Tamil Nadu.

Police termed it as a ‘wanton act‘ as drinking water from the tank, having a capacity of 10,000 litres, was being supplied to people belonging to Adi Dravidar community.

The village was dominated by the Scheduled Caste (SC) community where about more than 30 families are staying.

Pudukottai District Collector Kavitha Ramu along with revenue, police and other officials, visited the village and met the residents today.

Acting on a complaint from the Panchayat President, police have registered cases and commenced an investigation into the incident.

The incident came to light after children, who consumed the water, started falling ill following which the doctors said water contamination could be the reason and asked the locals to check the water quality.

As bad odour emanated from the water, the locals checked the overhead tank, by removing the heavy concrete slab that covered the tank, and they were shocked to find human excreta dumped in it last evening and alerted the revenue authorities.

The Block Development Officer of Annavasal, Kulathur Tahsildar and police personnel and the CPI(M) Legislator from Gandharvakottai M.Chinnadurai visited the village.

After draining out the water, the tank was twice cleaned with chlorine powder.

As a temporary solution, authorities have made alternative arrangements by setting up a plastic tank and provided drinking water to the villagers.

Terming as an 'inhuman act', Congress Legislature Party (CLP) Leader K.Selvaperunthagai urged Chief Minister M.K.Stalin to take stringent action against the culprits and book them under SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. (UNI)