TUTICORIN: Residents of Alagesapuram of ward three in Tuticorin Corporation are sore over the unhygienic condition of drinking water because of its mixing with sewage.

Those living in Alagesapuram First Street complained that drinking water provided for them was inconsumable.

In the work taken up by Corporation authorities to clear stagnant water from low-lying areas of State Bank Colony, Muthammal Colony and Kurunji Nagar using heavy machinery, the drinking water pipeline is reported to have been damaged. The sewage line by the side of Alagesapuram has also suffered damages.

“Since the problem is there for more than 20 days, remedial measures have to be taken immediately. The stench emanating from the drinking water is unbearable. , Most of the residents here are consuming canned or bottled water to protect themselves against water-borne diseases. We have been trying to address this grievance to Mayor R. Kasthuri Thangam on several occasions,” B. Kovilpillai Selvaraj, a resident of Alagesapuram, said on Monday.

 M. Karthik, another resident, said that drinking water was being procured at Rs. 30 and above per can.

Annakili said that even after boiling the water at her residence, it gave a bad smell. “We filter the water before consuming it.”

Unable to locate

The Mayor said that the Corporation personnel were unable to locate the damage to the pipeline. The team could not assess whether the damages were caused in the drinking water pipe line or in the sewage line. They had been working on it and the leaks would be plugged in a day or two, she said.