Residents stop lorries near Cheyyar for damaging water pipelines, roads 

Residents of Nedumpirai village, five km from Cheyyar town in Tiruvannamalai, blocked the Moranam – Vembakkam Main Road, and “seized” seven trucks and tipper lorries that were carrying loads of blue metal to nearby towns. The residents alleged that the heavily-loaded lorries damaged water pipelines and roads in the area.

Residents said that remote villages near the town have been witnessing continuous movement of trucks and tipper lorries over a fortnight. The lorries carry loads of blue metal from the stone quarries and crushing units nearby round-the-clock.

The movement of these vehicles have not only damaged the existing stretch, but also the main water pipeline that supplies water to Nedumpirai and Moranam villages.

“Rash driving by lorry drivers also pose risk for the lives of women and children using the stretch, said R. Paraman, a resident.

Panchayat officials said that the existing water pipelines have been laid from a borewell along the stretch, which is around 800 ft. deep, to draw water for residents in these villages on alternate days. Pipelines cover a distance of five km. Water from the borewell is pumped to three over head tanks (OHT) in these villages every day. Each OHT, on an average, has a capacity of around 30,000 litres. It takes nearly five to six hours to fill each OHT due to the distance of the pipelines.

Further panchayat officials said that continuous movement of blue metal laden lorries and trucks has damaged the underground water pipelines. It has resulted in frequent pipeline bursts at many spots on the stretch.

Repair work of the pipelines also remains challenging due to non-stop movement of the vehicles. It has disrupted regular water supply to households in these villages. Residents depend on panchayat water supply due to salty groundwater.

Around 10 a.m, residents from affected villages blocked the key stretch and demanded regulation of lorries and trucks on the route. Based on an alert from the lorry drivers, revenue officials and Moranam police rushed to the spot and pacified the residents.

After over an hour of agitation, the residents dispersed after they were given assurance that action would be taken. Subsequently, the police seized overloaded lorries without valid documents. A case has also been registered. A probe is under way.