The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : Corporation tells CPT to share excess water

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Apr 18, 2004

Kerala

Kerala - Kochi

Corporation tells CPT to share excess water

By Our Staff Reporter

KOCHI, APRIL 17. The Corporation Council today passed a resolution requesting the Cochin Port Trust (CPT) to supply its excess water to Mattancherry so as to partly ease the drinking water shortage in West Kochi.

The resolution moved by K. J. Antony, chairman of the Welfare Standing Committee, pointed out that the port does not supply water to ships any more as private parties have been doing that for the past six years. He said that about 2,000 kl of unused water remains in balance in the large tanks of the port every day.

Quoting sources, Mr. Antony claimed that the daily water stock account of the port indicated the huge balance of water in its tanks. There are 12 sumps or underground tanks of 462 kl capacity at Mattancherry Halt, he said.

According to Mr. Antony, the Kerala Water Authority (KWA)'s treated water is being pumped directly to these tanks through two lines of 12 and 28 inches from the Perumanoor Pumping Station. Even the KWA engineers are not aware of the large quantity of water being pumped through these pipes, he claimed.

The water that falls in the large sumps at Mattancherry Halt is pumped to four overhead tanks and four underground tanks within the Port area for local distribution. Mr. Antony said that a joint effort by the officials of the KWA and the CPT by releasing the excess water in the CPT tanks to areas which suffer from water shortage, can greatly help the people of West Kochi. Mr. Antony told the Council that Mattancherry Terminal railway station does not need water as it has stopped functioning. Although there are 920-odd quarters at the Port, less than 700 of them are presently occupied, he said. The Port had, Mr. Antony said, given water to Mattancherry areas through a special pipeline a couple of decades ago.

However, neither the KWA nor the CPT officials agreed with these claims. The KWA officials said that they supply only 2 mld (two million litres per day) of water to the Port, which is much less than what is needed.

CPT officials wondered at the claim that the Port has an excess of about 2 mld water a day. "How is it possible when what we get a day is only 2 mld water," said J. Karthikeyan, the Chief Engineer of Cochin Port Trust. He said there are sumps and tanks of large capacity but not enough water.

The daily requirement of water for the port is 5 mld, said CPT officials. But, they said, the KWA currently supplies only half of what is needed. Earlier, the port used to get 4 mld water.

The officials said that the port gets water only to supply for three hours to the quarters and two hours to the offices.

The deep well water, which is not potable, is being used for toilets.

The CPT officials said they pay KWA about Rs. 10 lakhs a month towards water charges at the industrial rate. They said little water remains in balance in the CPT tanks.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Kerala

News Update

Stories in this Section

Cusat courses to be showcased in Asian education fairs

Anganavadi to be housed in new building

Corporation tells CPT to share excess water

Workshop on fertility awareness concludes

Traditional artisans seek latest technological help

Four file nomination papers

Somayagam organisers deny charges

`Managing interference biggest challenge'

Around the City

In Kochi Today