Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

KWA submits report on pipe bursts

G. Mahadevan

Moots that external agency monitor Aruvikkara facility

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A high-level team of the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) which inquired into the possible reasons behind the recent bursts in pipelines bringing water to the city has recommended that a specialist `external' agency be asked to monitor the activities of the Aruvikkara pumping station for six months.

The report submitted to Minister for Water Resources N.K. Premachandran on Thursday also says that the field engineers of the KWA should have been more meticulous in giving written reports about malfunctions in pipelines and other similar problems to higher authorities.

However, the report does not conclude that the repeated bursts in the pipelines were deliberate. It also does not hold any official/ officials of the KWA responsible and has not recommended any disciplinary action against anyone.

Mr. Premachandran told The Hindu on Friday that one possible reason for the bursts, according to the report, was the daily diversion of water coming to the reservoirs at Vellayambalam to fill those at Thirumala. "Daily, there is a closure of valves to facilitate diversion of water to Thirumala. This takes place after 9 p.m. All the bursts also occurred between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m.," he said.

A source in the KWA said the phenomenon called the `water hammer effect' could have been one reason for the bursts. "When the valve is closed, there is a backflow of water.

This leads to a sudden spike in water pressure in the line. However, the effect of the water hammer should be visible in the 30 minutes or so after closing the valve. But the bursts happened beyond this time-frame," the engineer said.

The report discusses the role of ageing pipelines in the bursts and also points to the problem of repeated voltage fluctuations at Aruvikkara, said Mr. Premachandran. It has asked for further investigations to determine the exact nature of the problems on the electricity front.

The KWA team, led by its technical member Suresh Babu, during its recent `lightning inspection' had also collected water samples from Aruvikkara to be tested for quality. "Though there is no issue with quality, the report has asked that the laboratory at Aruvikkara and the testing mechanism in general be strengthened," Mr. Premachandran said.

The report has recommended that a chemist be posted at the laboratory at Aruvikkara.

The report has also come down on top officials of the KWA, including the Chief Engineer, for not carrying out regular inspections at Aruvikkara.

It specifically recommends that the Superintending Engineer, Thiruvananthapuram, and the Chief Engineer, South, periodically visit Aruvikkara to inspect the operations there.

"I will ask the Government Secretary concerned for his views, but at this moment, the Government in all probability will accept in full the recommendations of the committee. I will hold further discussions on these matters with top officials of the KWA," the Minister added.

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

Stories in this Section

Chandy: Plan finalised before LDF decision on ADB loan
A ray of hope for women
KWA submits report on pipe bursts
Steps taken for uninterrupted supply of `aravana'
Thin plastic carrybags to go
DTPC suspends boating services
Youth goes missing
Vector-control measures to be intensified
Plea to grant clearance for Athirappilly project
Protest against price rise
Around the City
In Thiruvananthapuram Today
Campus Notes

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu