Kerala
Efforts on to solve water crisis at Elamakkara, Perandur

Renu Ramanath

KWA plans to increase pumping pressure to the areas

KOCHI: The woes of the residents of Elamakkara, Perandur and neighbouring areas, who suffer from perennial shortage of drinking water, could get a relief once the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) plan to increase pumping pressure to the area is completed.

The KWA plans to increase the pressure of the water being pumped down towards the north Kaloor area, including Elamakkara by linking two pipelines at Thammanam.

The inter-connection work, now going on near Thammanam, will be completed within the next couple of weeks.

At present, the whole of Elamakkara, Perandur, Ponekkara and north Kaloor areas are being supplied by the 750-mm cast iron pipeline branching off from Palarivattom via Edappally. As this pipeline carries water pumped directly from the Aluva Headworks, no pressure is being felt on the flow of water, which weakens considerably by the time it reaches Palarivattom from Aluva. The water from Aluva Headworks is just allowed to flow along this line towards

Edappally and from there to Elamakkara and Perandur. This has been pointed out as one of the reasons for the water shortage at Elamakkara and Perandur.

By linking the Palarivattom-Edappally line with the 42-inch line from Thammanam going to the city via Kathrikkadavu, the KWA officials expect to increase the pumping pressure in the former pipeline.

Once the line is linked to the main distribution line going from Thammanam Pump House towards the city, the pumping pressure could be increased from the pump house.

One portion of the inter-connection work has been completed. The remaining work will be taken up next week, along with another inter-connection to be conducted at Kalamassery.

The two works will be clubbed together so that the work would necessitate only one complete shutdown of the supply from Aluva Headworks, which would affect the whole city and suburbs, according to the KWA officials. At Kalamassery, the 1,500-mm pipeline of the HUDCO project will be linked to another line.

The inter-connections will be held next week. It is expected that the water supply will have to be down for at least one-and-a-half day, provided everything goes on according to the schedule. As the work is highly complicated, whether the work could be completed within the prescribed time limit could not be predicted, the KWA officials said.

It is pointed out that the supply towards the city will in no way be affected even if the pumping pressure towards Elamakkara is increased as more water is expected to be available for the city areas at present.

This is a result of the charging of the Chowara project, which is supplying more water to Paravur and suburbs.

At least 15 MLD (million litres per day) of water supplied earlier to Paravur, is expected to be now free for diverting towards the city.

Hence, increased pumping pressure towards Elamakkara will not affect the supply towards the city.

Though the formal inauguration of the Chowara project could not be held due to the Assembly elections, charging of water through the newly laid pipeline towards Paravur and other panchayts is already on.
(The Hindu - May 10, 2006)