The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : City reels under water shortage

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 11, 2005

Kerala

Kerala - Kochi

City reels under water shortage

By Our Kochi Bureau

WATER-STARVED: Coastal areas in Ernakulam district have started feeling the heat even before summer has set in. Photo: H. Vibhu

KOCHI, MARCH 10 . Summer has only started, but city taps are already drying up even as Kerala Water Authority (KWA) and Corporation of Kochi are engaged in a war of words over dues and payments.

Drinking water shortage is nothing new to the city and its suburbs. But, this year, the problem has started earlier than usual. Areas that were comparatively free from water shortage before have been affected this time.

Many areas within the city such as Panampilly Nagar, Karikkamuri and Elamakkara have been feeling the pressure of taps running dry for days together. The situation is not different in many areas of Karukappilly, Kathrukkadavu, Chalikkavattom, Vennala, Ponnurunni, Vyttila, and Poonithura.

"At times, you do not get water for the whole day," said Joseph Alexander, former president of Ernakulam District Residents Associations Apex Council, who lives in Panampilly Nagar.

Corporation councillor

M. Anilkumar said that although his division that includes Puthukkalavattom was comparatively free from the problem, neighbouring areas, including Elamakkara, faced acute shortage.

Councillor E.P. Selvaraj said that most of the areas in Division 29, which he represents, had not been getting regular water supply for three-four months, except for a brief period early morning. These areas include Deshabhimani Road, Perumpotta Road, Perandur Road, Swamippady Road, Vayanasala Road, Alinkal Road, and Puthenpura Road. This region has many residential areas, apartments and schools, including Bhavan's Vidya Mandir.

Tanker lorries

Mr. Selvaraj said that people depended on tanker lorries for water. Apartment complexes regularly buy tanker loads of water. Dewaswamparambu, Ettukadu Road, Thanikkal - Keerthi Nagar Road, and Kuruppamchira Lane in Division 35 were also suffering from acute water shortage.

The Yuvajanavedi district secretary, M.B. Jayaghosh, said that Anandapuram Colony, behind St. Albert's College, Pallipparambu Colony near St. Mary's Cathedral Basilica, and Pulleppady, had been badly hit for the past one month. Water was available only for a short time after 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. everyday, he said.

Vaduthala, on the northern tip of the city, also faces acute water shortage. Piped water supply has become scarce owing to many unauthorised connections, says K. Xavier, a resident.

The situation in adjoining Chittoor area is worse. Many houses have been waiting for water connection for the past several months.

Worst-hit

Chellanam Panchayat, the southern-most end of the district, is the worst-hit every dry season.

Owing to tsunami, the panchayat has been getting drinking water from tanker lorries earlier this year, according to the panchayat president, Kusumam John.

The District Administration provides two lorries that operate six trips daily. But, as piped water supplied in northern regions of the panchayat is saline, residents there stopped the lorries mid-way, even though the tanker supply was originally meant for the southern region where hardly any water reached through taps, Ms. John said. Many parts of Tripunithura, including the coastal belt on the western side of Kannankulangara, parts of Eroor, Thekkumbagam, Mekkara, and FACT Nagar, are facing acute water shortage. The municipal chairman, K.K. Mohanan, said that Tripunithura was getting only 3.5 mld (million litre per day) from Kerala Water Authority (KWA); the rest of the supply was being taken by the Corporation from Vytilla.

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

Kerala

News Update

Stories in this Section

City reels under water shortage

Water supply projects lack flow

`Civil Supplies Minister tampering with tender terms'

River Authority for Periyar mooted

Two killed in lift collapse

Protest to seek completion of scheme

Kochi metro rail project report by June

Around the City

In Kochi Today