Kerala Water Authority confusion hits road development

KOZHIKODE: The Kerala Water Authority’s confusion over relaying the underground water distribution pipeline on the six city roads  is delaying the road development work.

Though Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society (ULCCS), which won the tender for the work, had to postpone the date on several occasions,   the confusion prevails.

ULCCS sources said the Road Fund Board had  asked them to start the work from November 5  irrespective of the status of the KWA pipelines, BSNL lines and KSEB lines.

Sources  said  that the KWA still had  no idea how it would  relay the water distribution pipes which are  centuries old. “In some places there are huge pipes that are laid and never used.

KWA is sure that the pipelines would burst if they try to touch them and the water distribution in the city would come to a standstill. So they do not know how to carry out the work.

There is no news from the KSEB or BSNL either,” ULCCS president Rameshan Paleri said. A request from ULCCS to hand over the work of shifting  cables and water distribution pipes to them has fallen on deaf ears.

“Now we have decided not to wait for anyone.  We do encounter a lot of problems and are actually confused about the works on Francis Road-Mankavu Road that is completely dug up for drainage,” Rameshan said.

The ULCCS has already completed its bank formalities and was  about to start the work  by October 1. However, its  planning went for a toss and the work got delayed. Now the ULCCS is determined to start the work by November 5, after the first phase of local body elections.

The government had sanctioned the development of six roads in the city under City Road Development Programme.  The Stadium-Puthiara Road, Kovoor-Vellimadukunnu Road, Francis Road-Mankavu, Karaparamba – Kalluthankadavu Road and Panathilthazham –CWRDM Road will be developed. The land acquisition procedures have been completed and the work order was handed over to ULCCS in September.