Friday, Apr 08, 2005
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Kochi
By Our Staff Reporter
KOCHI, APRIL 7. The recent summer showers have brought no respite to people reeling under water scarcity in Kadamakudy panchayat limits. The panchayat, which includes 10 islands spanning nearly 12 sq. km, is one of the worst hit by drought in Ernakulam district. Currently, water is being supplied in barges and four tanker lorries in three trips. But this hardly fulfils the demand. Many places in the panchayat limits are inaccessible by barges or lorries. Here, we use country-boats, said Mary Agnus, President of the panchayat. The panchayat has taken steps to have more natural sources of water. Funds up to Rs. 2,000 for digging wells were disbursed to people living below poverty line. A sum of Rs. 5 lakhs has been earmarked for inviting a consultant to study three options for a permanent solution to the crisis — establish a purifying unit for water that can be brought in from Aluva, a bigger desalination plant or groundwater sources. Tenders will be invited for consultancy next week. The panchayat has a desalination plant with a capacity to purify 20,000 litres of water daily. But this has not been commissioned. "We had proposed a Rs. 80-lakh project for laying a pipeline to Kadamakudy from Pachalam. Nothing has happened after four years. Now they say that permission from the Railways for laying the pipeline is awaited," said K.V. William, Vice-President of the panchayat. The panchayat has constructed a tank with a capacity of 1.5-lakh litres to collect water thus supplied. "The smaller tanks are yet to be installed in the wards," Ms. Agnus said. The requirement of water is 5 million litres a day. Barges and tankers supply only 3-lakh litres. Though alternative methods, such as rainwater harvesting, have been promoted, they have not helped much. "Nearly 100 water harvesting units were built here by January or February after the monsoon. So, we are waiting for the next rains," Mr. William said.
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