Residents in both rural and urban areas of Tamil Nadu’s Dharmapuri district are facing irregularities in their drinking water supply from the Hogenakkal Drinking Water Supply and Fluorosis Mitigation Project. This has led to worries about the decreasing availability of clean water as the inflows to the Hogenakkal reservoir decline. The project, a major drinking water initiative in Tamil Nadu, caters to Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts, serving as a crucial water source for numerous residents.
In recent weeks, residents have noted a decrease in the frequency and duration of water supply, causing many households to deal with longer intervals between supplies. In rural parts of the district, where water was previously provided daily, some areas now receive water only once every two or three days. Additionally, the duration of supply has been notably shortened, posing challenges for families to store enough water for their daily requirements.
Due to insufficient rainfall leading to declining groundwater levels, many villages have limited alternative sources of drinking water. In certain areas of Dharmapuri municipality, residents have reported irregular water supply from the Hogenakkal scheme and are instead being supplied through the Panchapalli water project. Allegations have surfaced that this alternative supply is of inferior quality and is accessible only on alternate days, exacerbating the difficulties faced by consumers.
Concerns have been raised regarding the local management of water distribution, with allegations from public representatives and residents suggesting that groundwater is being mixed with treated Hogenakkal water in various local bodies to meet the demand. This practice is believed to diminish the benefits of the fluorosis mitigation project, which aimed to offer safe, treated drinking water to regions historically impacted by high fluoride levels in groundwater.
Officials linked to the Hogenakkal water supply project have refuted claims of a reduction in water production or supply quantity. They have stated that despite lower inflows at Hogenakkal, the project continues to provide approximately 145 million liters of water daily to Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts. To adapt to changing water conditions, additional filtration measures have been implemented, while the responsibility for ensuring fair distribution to consumers lies with the respective local bodies.
