KOCHI: Even as the city and suburbs have started bearing the brunt of acute water shortage, the projects promoted as ultimate solutions to the crisis are moving at a snail's pace.

The three major pending projects, including the 108-mld (million litres per day) HUDCO-assisted drinking water project for the Vypeen Islands, Ernakulam City and West Kochi; the 62-mld Chowara Water Supply Scheme and 20-mld Thripunithura Water Supply Scheme, are encountering various hurdles.

Water Resources Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan had recently said that the completion of these projects would help solve Kochi's water shortage completely. But, these three projects have a combined capacity of only 191 mld. According to the Minister's own estimates, Kochi and suburbs at present have a water deficit of 355 mld.

The present water requirement of Kochi and its suburbs comes to 480 mld, while the capacity of Aluva Headworks is only 225 mld. Even this capacity does not account for the actual supply that reaches the city, as at least 40 per cent of water is lost during distribution.

All these projects as well as the UK Department for International Development (DFID-aided) Water Supply Scheme for Mattancherry have been pending for years.

Apart from completing the new schemes, regular maintenance and augmentation of existing pipelines will help to maintain water pressure in many areas, it is pointed out. Corporation councillor Selvaraj pointed out that completing the construction of the last 300 metres of a 28-inch pipeline from the Thammanam pump house would benefit Elamakkara, Cheranelloor, Palarivattom, Edappally and Vennala. The area is now getting supply from an inter-section from Thammanam pump house, but the pressure is very low here, resulting in inadequate water supply.

In the coastal areas also, the authorities seem not too keen to find a permanent solution to the drinking water problem. While the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA)'s proposal for a water desalination plant in Chellanam has been welcomed by residents, the latest information is that the Authority is confused over whether it should be individual plants or a chain of units as a comprehensive scheme.

The comprehensive scheme includes 11 units, starting from Chellanam to Vypeen Island and further north. The GCDA had completed a case study and a field survey, which proved that a single unit was viable and could be established. A plot in Ward 13, with acute water shortage, has been identified for the plant.

The initial plan was to divert funds identified for tsunami relief for the plant. If we get the right sponsor, we would prefer to go in for the comprehensive scheme, said a senior GCDA official.

Thripunithura Municipal chairman K.K. Mohanan pointed out that a new pipeline for Rs.58 lakhs was likely to solve some of the problems of water scarcity faced by the Municipality. But the question of who will foot the bill remains to be answered, he added.

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