Hundreds of families residing along the Pettah-Anayara Road in Thiruvananthapuram are enduring a severe drinking water crisis, with their supply completely cut off for the past five days. The disruption is a direct consequence of ongoing road widening work, which has necessitated the shifting and laying of new pipelines by the Kerala Water Authority (KWA).
Pipeline Shifts Lead to Dry Taps
The crisis began when the KWA initiated work to relocate and install new water pipelines as part of the infrastructure upgrade. Despite the new pipes being laid, they have not been fully charged or integrated with the existing system. This has led to repeated failures of temporary arrangements meant to supply water to the affected households.
A KWA official, speaking anonymously, confirmed the issue. The official attributed the prolonged shortage to frequent bursts in the newly laid 200mm diameter water pipes, which have yet to establish a stable network. "We are trying to fix them quickly," the official stated, but no clear timeline for full restoration has been provided to the public.
Residents Struggle for Basic Needs
With no water flowing from their taps, residents are facing immense hardship. Many are now compelled to purchase expensive water or travel long distances to fetch minimal supplies for cooking, cleaning, and drinking.
"We haven't had a drop of water for five days. We can't even manage basic household chores," said Deepa Menon, a distressed resident of Anayara. She expressed frustration over the lack of response from authorities despite repeated complaints. "We've to buy water now or depend on well water that many of us don't trust."
The local water distribution network in the capital has been under consistent strain in recent months due to multiple infrastructure projects. This incident follows a major leak in the main pipeline from the Aruvikkara treatment plant last month, which caused widespread disruption in central parts of the city.
Authorities Respond to Growing Concerns
Defending the road project, an official from the Kerala Road Fund Board (KRFB) emphasized its importance. The Pettah-Anayara-Oruvathilkotta model road is a priority development for the city's infrastructure. The official acknowledged coordination with KWA for utility shifts but noted that delays and technical glitches are common in large-scale works.
The KRFB had awarded the road construction contract to the Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society in May 2024. While an 18-month timeline was estimated, with an earlier projection for completion by December 2025, only portions of the work are finished. Authorities admit that several more months of work are required before utilities, including the water pipelines, become fully operational.
Local MLA Kadakampally Surendran assured that the water issue is being treated with urgency. "We've been trying to fix the problem, but pipes burst and supply was disrupted again," he explained, promising a war-footing approach to resolve the crisis plaguing his constituents.
