CHENNAI: Taps at Asia’s largest perishable goods wholesale market in Koyambedu have gone dry for more than a decade and traders are surviving by using the borewell in the area. The wholesale market, which has 2,108 shops, does not have water supply for nearly a decade. "Initially, we did get water but then, the water connection was cut,” said traders.When City Express contacted Metro Water officials, they said that the traders had not paid water taxes to the tune of Rs 2 crore and hence, the supply hadbeen disconnected. “If the traders give us in writing that they will pay the arrears, then the water connections will be restored,” said a Metro Water official.The traders said that if the Market Management Committee provided them with water cards, they would be able to pay the tax and there wouldn't be any outstanding payments.But officials claim that such a measure cannot be taken, as keeping track of those who do not pay arrears could prove to be a headache for the Metro Water Department.Metro water officials also said that initially, only 25 traders paid water tax, while the rest of them never did.Official sources in Market Management Committee suggested a new set of rules to handle the situation better like revoking the licence of a shop if the shop owners failed to pay the water tax. But while officials debate a way out of the quagmire, the lack of water adds to the infrastructure woes of what is being boasted of as Asia’s largest perishable wholesale market.
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