CHENNAI: With tanker lorry owners set to go on strike from today, residents along the OMR were frantically storing water on Sunday, fearing a shortage. One apartment complex went to the extent of draining the swimming pool to store water for daily use.The secretary of a tower at the Hiranandani Edina apartment complex in Navalur S A Baig said, "As a precaution, we have stored water for the next two days. We are trying to talk to the tanker lorry owner's association to get a clear picture of the situation."Residential complexes, gated communities, hospitals, hotels, IT companies and other industries on the entire stretch from Madhya Kailash to Kelambakkam are totally dependent on tanker water supply, say members of the Tanker Lorry Owner's Association.The strike was called after the Madras high court ordered action against the illegal tapping of groundwater for commercial exploitation. Kancheepuram district collector P Ponniah said a team of officials from the TWAD Board is in the process of identifying illegal borewells in the district.R Baskaran, a member of the South Chennai Tanker Owner's Association, said Pallikaranai, Ambattur, Manjambakkam near Madhavaram, Alamathi in Red Hills, Poonamallee, Tambaram and Chromepet are among the areas where groundwater is tapped through borewells. Water from these areas is filled in more than 4,200 tankers and supplied to various parts of the city and its suburbs every day. Officials have already closed more than 20 borewells in Poonamallee, he said.In some areas, information spread that those who sunk borewells illegally on their premises would be arrested and remanded in custody. Fearing action, several property owners who were illegally tapping groundwater had closed the borewells, he added.

Stay updated with all the Chennai Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.