JICA project delayed, 1 year extension sought

Kozhikode: The pipeline-laying works for the Japan aided drinking water project (JICA) has been progressing at a snail’s pace and the private contractor who was selected has asked for a year's extension to complete the works. So far only 45 percent of the work has been completed and JICA sources said that permission for digging up highways in order to lay pipes was still awaited. The partial commissioning of the JICA project in the city has failed to achieve the desired results as the Kerala Water Authority’s existing pipelines could not stand the increased water pressure and pipe bursting has become routine in the city. Several areas that were supposed to be covered in the first phase of the project, still do not get regular water supply.

“The contractor has asked for an extension for completing the pipeline works. We can commission the JICA project completely only after the pipeline works get over. So far we have no resistance from the public but there can be apprehensions against digging up the roads during rainy season,” M K Ibrahim, JICA project director told Deccan Chronicle.

He said there was some resistance from local councilors against digging up newly laid roads in their wards. “However, that is not the reason for the delay. There had been some issues with the private contractor and those issues have been sorted out. Now they are carrying on with the works,” Ibrahim said.

While inaugurating the first phase of JICA in the city, ministers had assured the people of Kozhikode city that all the areas covered under the first phase would have continuous drinking water supply. However, none of these areas received continuous water supply for even a day. KWA sources said frequent pipe bursts stopped them from making full use of the JICA water reservoirs in the city. “Our existing pipelines are all several decades old and they could not stand the increased pressure when we released JICA water. So we had to suspend pumping from JICA water reservoirs or had to reduce the pumping power. Most of the city consumers are still dependent on KWA water supply. JICA project can be beneficial to the city dwellers only after they complete the pipeline works,” a KWA official said.