Colony of SCs water starved for 40 years

MADURAI, June 23: The Aiyyanapuram Scheduled Castes colony in Tamil Nadu’s Madurai district has been pleading in vain for drinking water for the past 40 years. The villagers have to travel 2 km for water. Repeated requests resulted in a handpump being installed in the colony in 1986, but even this was of no use, as the water was too saline for consumption. Government had promised action in 1986, but the promises have yet to materialise. Frustrated, people from 30 villages have decided to take out a procession and stage a demonstration in front of the Madurai district collectorate.