Kerala Water Authority starts work on major projects

Kochi: With a drought threat looming large, the Kerala Water Authority has started implementing 10 major drinking water projects on a war-footing. New pipelines are being laid to prevent water-loss and also ensure supply to parched areas like West Kochi. While the work of the Rs 2.45-crore project to lay 700 mm pipeline from Thoppumpaddy to Karuvelipaddi pump house started the other day, pipelines for 2100 metres from Puthankurushu to FACT will be laid from Wednesday onwards. After the old pipelines from Mattancherry bridge to Karuvelippady pump house are replaced, Kochi residents will get additional water from the newly commissioned Maradu plant which sources water from Muvattupuzha river.

Laying pipelines along this stretch was the major bottleneck in completing the network of Maradu project. "The sanction for half of the projects has been received while we'll start the other ones too in a week. The aim is to complete the projects by March-end," said a senior KWA official. District collector Muhammad Y. Safirulla had given prior permission for road cutting to complete the drinking water projects as part of the efforts to address impending drought. Usually, the KWA is permitted to cut roads only after the restoration charge is remitted to the agency concerned.

Due to fund shortage, the KWA had to stop several works following which the collector intervened.  The authority has been instructed to complete road cutting works before March 31 and a written assurance will be given to the Public Works Department that restoration charges would be remitted. Over 2.5 lakh people are expected to benefit with the completion of the project. The other projects to be implemented soon are replacing the old pipeline in Angamaly municipality, Ayyambuzha, Manjapra, Karukutty, Mookkannoor, Keezhmadu, Avoly and Kunnathunad panchayats.