Chennai, Sept 9:
The Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (Metro Water) seized 34 illegally installed water-suction motors from residential areas and hostels across seven zones during a special inspection drive on Monday, warning of strict action against those tapping drinking water pipelines illegally.
The seized motors were found in Tondiarpet, Ambattur, Anna Nagar, Teynampet, Kodambakkam, Adyar and Perungudi zones. Metro Water has formed special monitoring teams across all 15 zones to identify and prevent the unauthorised use of electric motors on water connections and public pipelines.
Officials said illegal suction motors directly draw water from pipelines, reducing pressure in the distribution network and affecting the equitable supply of drinking water to other consumers.
During the latest inspections, the teams detected unauthorised motors in several localities, including MKB Nagar, Mogappair, Choolaimedu, Valluvarkottam, Trustpuram, R Nagar, Kottivakkam and Kandanchavadi. All 34 motors were seized and notices were issued to the owners.
Metro Water warned that strict action under the relevant legal provisions would be taken against residents and establishments found installing or operating such motors to draw water directly from pipelines.
The latest operation follows an earlier crackdown in the Adyar zone, where 55 illegal water-suction motors had been confiscated. With the latest seizures, the total number of motors seized so far has reached 89.
Metro Water said the special inspections would continue across the city and appealed to residents not to use unauthorised motors, as such practices disrupt pipeline pressure and deprive other consumers of regular and equitable water supply.