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Metrowater GM appears in court

The Metrowater has claimed that sewage contamination in drinking water at Five Holes Bridge in Villivakkam was due to unauthorised tampering with water pipelines. This submission was made on behalf of the Metrowater General Manager Amudhavalli before the First Bench of the Madras High Court, which had directed her to appear before it on Thursday in person in connection with a public interest litigation. The PIL had been filed by P Cholaraja contending that because of the encroachments made on one side of the bridge and damage caused to the pipelines, sewerage coming under the bridge got mixed up with drinking water. On Thursday, in reply to a query from the Bench comprising Chief Justice AP Shah and Justice FM Ibrahim Kalifulla, the government pleader said on behalf of the Metrowater GM that water samples were collected and tested regularly and steps taken for preventing contamination. However, pipelines were being tampered with unauthorisedly, which caused contamination of drinking water, he said. Repair works were also being taken up as and when required. He also came forward to file an analysis and a detailed report on the steps taken to avoid contamination. And the Bench adjourned the matter till February 25.