Kerala - Alappuzha   

No drinking water in Kerala’s ‘rice bowl’

ALAPPUZHA: Kuttanad, which lies below sea level and is surrounded by water right through the year, is facing a peculiar problem. Even before summer has set in, ninety per cent of the areas in the region are already reeling under an acute shortage of potable water.

Complaints of water shortage, which usually crop up during April-June, are being raised from December itself. The shortage is being felt most in areas like Kavalam, Neelamperoor, Pulinkunnu, Kayalpuram, Edathua, Thakazhi, Thalavadi and Venattukadu. Only a few areas in and around Veliyanadu panchayat are learnt to be still in a comfortable position.

The water shortage, according to official sources, owes its origin to delays in ensuring a protected water supply and efficient implementation of schemes like the Kuttanad Water Supply Scheme. With most of its water bodies being polluted, Kuttanad presently receives water from a 22 Million Litres per Day (mld) capacity storage tank in Thiruvalla. As per official agreement, Kuttanad has to be supplied 11 mld while the rest has to be shared by Changanassery and Thiruvalla.

However, Kuttanad gets barely 2.5 mld. Even this does not reach the public properly. With the authorities yet to start the usual practice of supplying water on boats to the interior regions, the shortage is getting severe by the day.

Says former Kuttanad MLA K.C. Joseph: “Only areas closer to Thiruvalla, like Veliyanadu get sufficient tap pressure. A majority of the region, particularly the interior areas, are struggling. The share from Thiruvalla has to be increased at least to 14 mld. The authorities should also change the water supply system from that of pumping and distribution to storage and distribution.”

“There are several overhead tanks, like those at Pallikkuttumma, Thalavadi and Edathua, which are empty now. Water should be stored in these tanks, more such tanks should come up and the authorities should also increase the water supplied keeping in mind the transmission loses,” he says.

According to official sources, Kuttanad, which has a population of two lakhs, requires 40 litres per person per day.

But this, they admit, does not take into account transmission loses or the individual connections given to houses. “That is why the supply should be around 14mld,” Mr. Joseph points out.

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