At a time when people are running from pillar to post for drinking
water, the strike called by the tankers association is a move to squeeze
huge chunks of money by creating artificial scarcity of water, alleged
sources with the tankers association on condition of anonymity.
The District Drinking Water Transporters Welfare Association on Sunday called an indefinite strike to protest against the unnecessary intervention of police and food safety authority. However, the strike was called off in the evening.
The sources said that they opted for such a measure as they had no other option rather than creating a furore. “There is no dispute over the fact that an unholy nexus exists between the tankers association and drinking water lobbies. When the food safety authority has clamped down on them for distributing contaminated water, their activities were blocked. To overcome it, they needed an alternative and hence the strike was called,” they said.
The sources said that both the lobbies carry out their clandestine operations right under the nose of the Kerala Water Authority. As per the rule, the maximum capacity of water which could be supplied in a big tanker is about 24,000 tonnes. “But instead of using the allowed capacity, they collect water in huge tankers which can store about 40,000 tonnes of water from the recognised sources for the price allowed for 24,000 tonnes of water. Then the drinking water lobby sells it to the tankers association who in turn fleece the residents. For instance instead of paying Rs 720 for one tanker, the resident associations are forced to pay huge amount ranging from Rs 3000 to Rs 4000 per tanker,” they alleged.
They also pointed out that things would have been different, if the Kerala Water Authority distributes water in tankers. “The KWA now has only one tanker which can store a maximum capacity of 15,000 tonnes of water. But unfortunately, they operate the tanker only from 10 am to 5 pm which will not serve the purpose,” they said.
However Tanker Lorry Owners’ Association refuted the allegations. “There is no such move. It is due to the shortage of water that we are forced to suspend the services temporarily,” said Ubaid, Treasurer, Tanker Lorry Owners’ Association.
Besides, by transporting contaminated water, almost all the tankers have become defunct. “The interiors of the tankers are made of tin. Transporting contaminated water has corroded it. With city engulfed in severe water shortage, we do not have enough time to replace it,” they said.
District Collector P I Sheik Pareeth said that strict measures will be initiated against such lobbies. “I will look into the issue. Such violations will not be pardoned, if we procure concrete evidence against them,” he said.
The District Drinking Water Transporters Welfare Association on Sunday called an indefinite strike to protest against the unnecessary intervention of police and food safety authority. However, the strike was called off in the evening.
The sources said that they opted for such a measure as they had no other option rather than creating a furore. “There is no dispute over the fact that an unholy nexus exists between the tankers association and drinking water lobbies. When the food safety authority has clamped down on them for distributing contaminated water, their activities were blocked. To overcome it, they needed an alternative and hence the strike was called,” they said.
The sources said that both the lobbies carry out their clandestine operations right under the nose of the Kerala Water Authority. As per the rule, the maximum capacity of water which could be supplied in a big tanker is about 24,000 tonnes. “But instead of using the allowed capacity, they collect water in huge tankers which can store about 40,000 tonnes of water from the recognised sources for the price allowed for 24,000 tonnes of water. Then the drinking water lobby sells it to the tankers association who in turn fleece the residents. For instance instead of paying Rs 720 for one tanker, the resident associations are forced to pay huge amount ranging from Rs 3000 to Rs 4000 per tanker,” they alleged.
They also pointed out that things would have been different, if the Kerala Water Authority distributes water in tankers. “The KWA now has only one tanker which can store a maximum capacity of 15,000 tonnes of water. But unfortunately, they operate the tanker only from 10 am to 5 pm which will not serve the purpose,” they said.
However Tanker Lorry Owners’ Association refuted the allegations. “There is no such move. It is due to the shortage of water that we are forced to suspend the services temporarily,” said Ubaid, Treasurer, Tanker Lorry Owners’ Association.
Besides, by transporting contaminated water, almost all the tankers have become defunct. “The interiors of the tankers are made of tin. Transporting contaminated water has corroded it. With city engulfed in severe water shortage, we do not have enough time to replace it,” they said.
District Collector P I Sheik Pareeth said that strict measures will be initiated against such lobbies. “I will look into the issue. Such violations will not be pardoned, if we procure concrete evidence against them,” he said.
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