Residents, predominantly women, blocked the Gudiyatham Main Road at Ulli village, approximately 10 kilometres from the Gudiyatham town in Vellore, demanding immediate resumption of water supply for household consumption. The demonstration, held on Saturday, comes after wells and borewells dried up as a result of the parched lakes and ponds in the area.
Residents blocked the stretch at around 11 a.m. They said, despite the escalating temperatures in recent weeks, the local panchayat has failed to ensure regular water supply to households, including the filling up of street corner tanks. The Ulli village has nine wards that come under the Gudiyatham Panchayat Union near Jolarpet town in the Vellore district. The village comprises 15 remote hamlets, with around 3,500 families.
The irregular water supply has compelled residents to travel a minimum of 5-10 kilometres to Gudiyatham and Pernambut towns to fetch a few pots of water. “The panchayat has completely stopped water supply to households in the hamlet for many days now. The onset of the summer vacation and the intense heat has caused an increase in the household water consumption,” said S. Vanitha, a resident.
