KODAIKANAL : The prevailing water shortage in Kodaikanal hills has come as a blessing in disguise for the water mafia in the region, which is exploiting the situation by making a quick buck. Water tankers attached with motor sets at their rear are frequently spotted in the towns, busy transporting water to hotels and resorts. As bore wells have gone dry, the mafia has started stealing water from the Kodaikanal Lake, which is then smuggled through water tankers and sold at a higher price. The price of 9,000 litres of water load is sold between Rs 3,500 and Rs 4,000 at present against the usual rates that ranged between Rs 1,500 and Rs 2,000 a couple of months ago. The water is mainly used for washing and cleaning purposes in hotels and resorts. A large quantity of water is also bought for construction purposes in the hills.

"There are around 20 water tankers that operate in the town. Water from the Kodaikanal Lake is looted against the municipality's ban. Water tanker operators are cashing in on lakhs of rupees each day. While they deplete water from bore wells in panchayat areas during day time, at nights they steal water from the lake. The business is expanding as officials turn a blind eye towards the water mafia," said K Rajmohan, president, Kodaikanal Environmental Youth Service.

"The depth of the lake has drastically come down due to silting. The water level also has drastically come down due to absence of rainfall and stealing," said M Michael, managing trustee, Vattakanal Organisation for Youth Community and Environment.

V Ramesh, a shopkeeper said the residents are severely hit by the water crisis due to the escalating price of packaged drinking water. "Twenty litres of water was sold at Rs 30 only four months ago. The price has now skyrocketed and it is now being sold at Rs 70. The packaged drinking water is mainly brought from Batlagundu, where bottling industries are sprawling up," he added.

"Residents are at the receiving end as we have to spend our major portion of income in purchasing water. I have been buying packaged drinking water till four months ago. As the price started escalating it has become beyond our reach. We are purifying and drinking the water supplied by the municipality once in a week," R Nalini, a mother of three said.

When contacted, Shahul Hamid, Kodaikanal Township engineer and commissioner (in-charge) said taking water directly from the lake is not allowed by the municipality. "We allowed private tankers to withdraw water from the well close to the lake after collecting Rs 200 per load. Now, it is stopped as the available water is not enough for the municipal administration," he said.

