Water, for the residents of Coonoor is becoming a precious commodity. With supplies turning increasingly erratic, residents fret the idea of entertaining guests and relatives.

“My brothers had come to India on a holiday. When they indicated their plan to visit us in Coonoor, I bluntly asked them to come one (family) at a time; not because there is not enough room in my place, but because of the precarious water position,” says Sundar, a resident.

Notwithstanding the erratic supply, the rate per load of tanker has also started to shoot up. While two-three houses in an area pool to source a tanker load, the requirements are not always the same and there are affordability constraints as well, say a cross section of residents.

We were told that some areas get the supply once a fortnight, while others places such as Mount Pleasant get it once every 30-35 days.

“We used to get tank loads of water every alternate day during election time. Now that is it over, the situation is back to square one,” said 86-year old Aadhikesavan, a resident in Mount Pleasant area of Coonoor.

Some residents alleged private contractors of drawing water from the stream and the official machinery of remaining a silent spectator to such tapping. With the main source of water for this town — the Raliah dam — going dry, supply has become precarious, they say.

The town draws over 1,445 million litres of water a year from Raliah and Bandumi dams and Gymkhana stream.

While Coonoor town faces severe water shortage, Ooty, which is just about 20 km away, reports of flooding and land slide due to rains every now and then.

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