KOCHI: Vennala and Chalikkavattom areas in the city are facing severe water shortage. Vennala Thaliyil, Ulakampara, Arkkakadavu, Punathil Road, Chalikkavattom Chungam, Kumbalappilly, Pattath Road, Mannarakkara Road and Thoyakkavu are the worst hit areas.

The problem is aggravated by the absence of any other source of drinking water in these areas.

As the area is thickly populated, the people do not have a choice of other sources of water, including groundwater. The areas come under the Divisions 41, 45 and 46 of the Corporation.

According to the Kudivella Samkarashana Samiti, set up by the local people, several petitions and memorandums have been filed with the Kerala Water Authority (KWA), both by individual residents as well as mass petitions.

The samiti says there has been a severe obstruction to the flow of water towards the east of the NH-Bypass after the completion of the bypass. Vennala and Chalikkavattom lie to the east of the NH-Bypass and the water scarcity worsened after the completion of the bypass.

The pipelines from Thammanam Pump House supplying these areas pass through St. Rita's Road, Ponnurunni, Thammanam Chakkarapparambu Road, Pallissery Puthiya Road and Civil Line Road.

The samiti leaders say a new pipeline should be established to supply this region from Padivattom where the mainline from Aluva crosses the bypass. If a 12-inch line from the east side of the bypass could be reached till Ponnurunni Railway Line, the eastern side of the bypass could be supplied properly, they say.

Another demand is to increase the existing pumping time to the eastern side to four hours from the present duration of two hours.

The local people recently took out a march to the KWA Executive Engineer's Office to highlight their demand. A dharna held after

the march in front of the office was inaugurated by the Kochi Corporation Deputy Mayor C.K. Manishankar.

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