Kerala - Kochi
Water shortage likely to become poll issue

Renu Ramanath

Action groups have launched campaigns highlighting the issue

* KWA officials put blame on political leaders
* Say the shortage is fallout of increased supply to certain areas
* Demand to complete pending schemes

KOCHI: One more Water Day has gone by, with due deliberations and complaints on the perennial shortage of drinking water in the city.

With the Assembly elections nearing, the issue of drinking water shortage has started to occupy centre stage. Many of the local people, including residents' associations and action groups have begun campaigns to ensure that water remains an important agenda in the election manifesto of major political parties.

Interestingly, while the public ire is often directed at the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) for its failure to solve the water crisis with expediency, the KWA officials on the other hand, blame the intervention of political leaders for the stalling of many projects.

The Ernakulam District Residents' Associations Apex Council, which had held a dharna in front of the KWA office demanding a solution to the water crisis, will put forward its demands to the parties that approach the people during the poll campaign. P.K. Gopalakrishnan, apex council general secretary, said the KWA officials had clearly stated that the authority had no funds to replace the rusted GI pipes, which were causing heavy loss of water along the distribution network. The authorities were of the opinion that if residents' associations and local people came forward to sponsor the replacing of the GI pipes, the KWA will be ready to cooperate.

The apex council has demanded that the schemes to bring water to the city from Muvattupuzhayar at Pazhoor, Ramamangalam and Muvattupuzha, the Chowara expansion scheme, the HUDCO and DFID projects as well as the Bhoothathankettu project be completed immediately. According to Mr. Gopalakrishnan, water from Bhoothathankettu was already reaching Ambalamedu for FACT. It could be collected at a sump at Ambalamedu and supplied to the surrounding areas, he said.

Residents of Edakochi, who had staged a protest in front of the KWA office recently, have also decided to make political parties set water shortage as an agenda in the manifestoes.

Meanwhile, KWA officials point out that the interference of political leaders with an eye on the mileage to be garnered from the completion of water supply schemes has always been a major impediment as far as project implementation is concerned. Political leaders, especially MLAs want to take credit for the water supply schemes being implemented in their constituencies, they said.

Recently, there was a row between K. Babu, MLA, and T.M. Jacob, MLA, regarding the venue for the inauguration of the Thripunithura Water Supply Scheme, with Mr. Jacob accusing Mr. Babu of having manipulated to have the inaugural function at Thripunithura, instead of Piravom.

But, a senior engineer of the KWA pointed out that the venue ideally should have been at Choondy, from where the water was taken from Muvattupuzhayar. Choondy is located in Kunnathunadu constituency, represented by T.H. Musthafah, MLA.

Another senior official had pointed out that the recent shortage of water experienced in Edakochi and Palluruthy areas was a direct fallout of the increase in supply given to certain areas of Fort Kochi and Mattancherry on the recently held partial commissioning of the DFID-assisted Water Supply Augmentation Scheme.

Meanwhile, water supply in the city and suburbs will continue to be affected on Friday as well, following a shutdown of the distribution network owing to maintenance work at Aluva Headworks.

The inter-connection work of 1,200-mm line and 1,050-mm line being done at Karanakodam Junction as part of the Ad hoc Augmentation Scheme (formerly HUDCO scheme), is another reason for the shutdown.

Though the authorities say that the supply will be normalised by Friday noon, it is expected to take a couple of days for the supply to get back to normal.
(The Hindu - 24/03/06)