Kochi Water Crisis Deepens as Bureaucratic Payment Dispute Halts Pipeline Solution
Residents in and around Tripunithura, particularly in the Pettah and Statue Junction areas of Kochi, have been grappling with an acute water shortage for years. This crisis stems from their location at the tail end of the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) pipeline network, which originates from the Thammanam pump house in the city.
Protests Lead to Proposed Solution, Then Bureaucratic Roadblock
Following persistent protests by locals, the KWA devised a plan to alleviate the water scarcity. The authority recommended creating an intersection of underground pipelines at Pettah Junction. This would divert water from a now-defunct refinery line to ease the crisis affecting nearly 600 houses in the Poonithura region, where the shortage has worsened over the last three months.
However, this temporary solution has hit a significant bureaucratic hurdle. The work at Pettah Junction falls under the NH 85 stretch, requiring approval from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). The NHAI has demanded a deposit of approximately Rs 80,280, specifically via online money transfer. The KWA, constrained by state government protocols, has pointed out that it can only make payments through direct means such as bank cheques, leading to a standstill.
District Collector's Intervention and Local Frustration
The water shortage prompted protests, resulting in the intervention of District Collector G Priyanka. She called an urgent meeting on January 13, directing stakeholders to find a solution within 15 days. A senior KWA official explained, "We decided to provide an intersection at Pettah Junction to connect the main 21-inch pipe to the one going in the Maradu direction, to divert water from the refinery line. This was after the refinery was fed using water drawn from the Pazhoor pump house through the Maradu water treatment plant."
Despite this, locals remain frustrated. K S Sankaranarayanan, secretary of the Mukkottil Temple Road Residents Association, stated, "The collector convened a meeting to find a solution in 15 days. However, nothing has happened so far. We continue to face difficulty and rely on tanker trucks by paying hefty amounts. We seek further intervention from the collector to avoid bureaucratic delay and carry out the work at the earliest."
Underlying Issues and Long-Term Demands
Vyttila councillor V P Chandran highlighted that the Rs 2 lakh work is only a temporary fix. "We have been demanding a direct water connection from the nearby Maradu plant, instead of the Thammanam pump house, which is far. There is a heavy loss of water during the supply network, resulting in the current crisis. The 100 MLD Maradu plant was set up by Kochi corporation, but Maradu municipality refuses to share the water. We've taken up the issue with the authorities concerned," he said.
KWA's Payment Dilemma and Search for Alternatives
The KWA claims it is willing to pay the NHAI but faces limitations with online transactions. A KWA official added, "NHAI insists that the money be paid via online transaction. They provided a link, but under the state government system, there is no provision for online payment. We can pay via bank cheque or other direct means. We have asked for a way out and are mulling measures like availing the service of a consultant."
This bureaucratic impasse underscores the challenges in addressing public infrastructure needs, leaving residents in Tripunithura to endure ongoing water scarcity while authorities navigate procedural delays.
