Kochi Water Crisis Deepens as Bureaucratic Hurdles Block Pipeline Repairs
Hundreds of residents in Poonithura, Kochi, continue to endure severe drinking water shortages. This dire situation persists despite a direct order from District Collector G Priyanka to resolve the issue swiftly. The problem shows no signs of immediate relief due to ongoing bureaucratic delays between key agencies.
NHAI Rejects KWA's Repair Proposal Citing Technical Mismatch
The Kerala Water Authority (KWA) sought permission from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to dig along the stretch from Pettah to Gandhi Square. Their goal was to repair an underground pipeline and restore uninterrupted water supply to the affected areas. However, NHAI recently returned the work sketches submitted by KWA. Officials cited a technical mismatch in the submitted plans, forcing KWA to revise and resubmit the documents.
An NHAI official explained the lengthy approval process. The KWA must now submit revised sketches through the Kochi office to the regional officer. Once preliminary approval is granted, federal guidelines require publishing the proposal on the NHAI website for a 30-day public notice period. Only after this period can a demand notice for the security deposit be issued. Final approval depends entirely on the payment processing, adding further delays.
Months of Acute Water Scarcity Plague Neighborhoods
For many months, neighborhoods including Gandhi Square, Mukkoottil Temple Road, and Jawahar Road have suffered acute water scarcity. The crisis worsened in November 2025 when a damaged storage tank at the Thammanam pump house crippled water distribution from the Aluva and Maradu treatment plants. This breakdown severely impacted daily life for local families.
Residents and Councillor V P Chandran submitted a memorandum highlighting their plight. In response, District Collector G Priyanka convened a meeting on January 13. She directed KWA to complete pipeline repairs along the NH 85 stretch from Pettah to Gandhi Square within fifteen days. This directive aimed to provide quick relief to the suffering community.
Residents Demand Urgent Intervention to Bypass Delays
The collector's fifteen-day mandate has now collided with NHAI's rigid approval process. K S Sankaranarayanan, secretary of the Mukkottil Temple Road Residents Association, expressed deep frustration. We seek the further intervention of the collector to avoid bureaucratic delays from the agencies. He emphasized the urgent need to carry out pipe repair works at the earliest to alleviate the water crisis.
Local residents are growing increasingly desperate as the approval labyrinth prolongs their hardship. They rely on swift action from authorities to restore their basic water supply. The community hopes for a prompt resolution, but the complex procedural steps suggest more waiting ahead.
