Kerala - Kochi
People in West Kochi not too sure about receiving adequate water
Staff Reporter
Long decades of wait making them cautious
KOCHI: Though the Kerala High Court directed the State Government on Monday to supply adequate drinking water in west Kochi within six months, residents of this area are cautious in being optimistic about the situation changing for the better.
The Kerala Water Authority (KWA) hopes to meet the directive, but long decades of wait for continuous supply of water are making people cautious.
The authority's central zone Chief Engineer, Susan Jacob, expects that the remaining part of the ad hoc Water Supply Augmentation Project (formerly known as HUDCO project) will be completed within three months, bringing an additional supply of 25 mld (million litres a day) of water to west Kochi.
Laying of the main pumping line from Nirmala School junction to Pukkattupadi junction will be completed within three months, she says. Work from the school junction to Vidappuzha and from there to HMT Junction at Kalamassery will be completed in three months. Approval has been given for the work from HMT Junction to Pukkattupadi junction, and the work order will be issued in a week. This work is expected to be completed by May-end.
Ms. Jacob says a high-power committee of the authority has decided to complete the project before March 31. The court has been informed about the decision, she adds.
The authority has to rearrange a tender given to FACT Engineering Works (FEW) for laying pipes to West Kochi. The tender was cancelled as it demanded an increased price, citing delay in work caused by factors not under its control.
The deadline set for FEW to complete the pipeline laying work from Kathrikkadavu to Konthuruthy expired in 2003. But the delay was caused by impediments in land acquisition proceedings and related litigation, it is said. There was a dispute between the Greater Cochin Development Authority and the KWA in this regard.
High hopes, but ...
Thomas Michael, of Thoppumpadi Karmasamithi, who is a former councillor, believes that this time, uninterrupted water supply will be a reality, but he is sceptical about the attitude of the authorities concerned towards West Kochi.
"All the officers are living in Ernakulam, not in Kochi. Nobody is interested in the issues of western Kochi," he alleges.
Even the councillor V.J. Hycinth is a bit doubtful about the outcome of the promises. He fears that the authority may plan to achieve the target by cutting down supply to other parts of the city. Setting up a booster pump house at Kalamassery under the DFID-assisted water supply augmentation scheme will help increase the force of water flow to West Kochi.
(The Hindu - 24/02/06, Friday)
People in West Kochi not too sure about receiving adequate water
Staff Reporter
Long decades of wait making them cautious
KOCHI: Though the Kerala High Court directed the State Government on Monday to supply adequate drinking water in west Kochi within six months, residents of this area are cautious in being optimistic about the situation changing for the better.
The Kerala Water Authority (KWA) hopes to meet the directive, but long decades of wait for continuous supply of water are making people cautious.
The authority's central zone Chief Engineer, Susan Jacob, expects that the remaining part of the ad hoc Water Supply Augmentation Project (formerly known as HUDCO project) will be completed within three months, bringing an additional supply of 25 mld (million litres a day) of water to west Kochi.
Laying of the main pumping line from Nirmala School junction to Pukkattupadi junction will be completed within three months, she says. Work from the school junction to Vidappuzha and from there to HMT Junction at Kalamassery will be completed in three months. Approval has been given for the work from HMT Junction to Pukkattupadi junction, and the work order will be issued in a week. This work is expected to be completed by May-end.
Ms. Jacob says a high-power committee of the authority has decided to complete the project before March 31. The court has been informed about the decision, she adds.
The authority has to rearrange a tender given to FACT Engineering Works (FEW) for laying pipes to West Kochi. The tender was cancelled as it demanded an increased price, citing delay in work caused by factors not under its control.
The deadline set for FEW to complete the pipeline laying work from Kathrikkadavu to Konthuruthy expired in 2003. But the delay was caused by impediments in land acquisition proceedings and related litigation, it is said. There was a dispute between the Greater Cochin Development Authority and the KWA in this regard.
High hopes, but ...
Thomas Michael, of Thoppumpadi Karmasamithi, who is a former councillor, believes that this time, uninterrupted water supply will be a reality, but he is sceptical about the attitude of the authorities concerned towards West Kochi.
"All the officers are living in Ernakulam, not in Kochi. Nobody is interested in the issues of western Kochi," he alleges.
Even the councillor V.J. Hycinth is a bit doubtful about the outcome of the promises. He fears that the authority may plan to achieve the target by cutting down supply to other parts of the city. Setting up a booster pump house at Kalamassery under the DFID-assisted water supply augmentation scheme will help increase the force of water flow to West Kochi.
(The Hindu - 24/02/06, Friday)
posted by renuramanath at 5:08 AM
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