Palluruthy continues to reel under water scarcity

As summer sets in, the water crisis continues to plague residents in several parts of Palluruthy in West Kochi. According to residents, the Konam region has been facing an acute shortage of water for the past few years, with its western parts being the worst affected. Earlier, a section of residents had threatened to abstain from voting in protest. However, the issue was resolved following the intervention of civic authorities.

K.J. Thankachan, an autorickshaw driver residing in Konam, said residents have been grappling with the crisis for years, though their woes are only now beginning to be addressed. “We have been facing this problem for the past four years. Over the last few days, following the intervention of civic authorities, we have started receiving some quantity of water,” he said.

Meanwhile, demands are growing for the commissioning of the storage tank at Edakochi, the construction of which began a few years ago. “Work on the tank had started earlier, but it has not yet been commissioned. Once it becomes operational, the problem can be solved permanently. So far, no concrete steps have been taken to commission it,” said Sureshkumar, another resident of Konam.

P.S. Viju, former councillor and a resident of the area, said that Konam’s location at the tail end of the supply network is a major reason for the recurring scarcity. “Pipelines have been laid, and efforts have been made to address the issue, but a permanent solution will be possible only after the Edakochi tank is commissioned,” he said.

C.R. Biju, councillor of Division 61 of Kochi Corporation, said steps are being taken to resolve the issue within three to four days. “Of the three months I have served as a councillor, nearly 30 days were spent visiting the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) office,” he said. He added that repair works are underway, with leaks being rectified. “The area has been facing an acute water crisis for a long time. Following sustained efforts, supply has been restored in some parts, and the remaining areas will be covered in the next few days,” Mr. Biju said.

He also confirmed that a section of residents had earlier threatened to boycott the elections. “After discussions and efforts to ensure a potable water supply bore fruit, people have decided against abstaining from voting,” he added.