Japan International Cooperation Agency water for Beypore

KOZHIKODE: Beypore will soon get water supply through the Japan-funded drinking water project, JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency). The coastal region has been struggling for drinking water during the last many years and the people had to depend on water supply trucks of the corporation, private agencies, political parties and NGOs during summer. All political parties have at least one water supply unit to cater to the public. Mr E. Muhammed, JICA project executive engineer, Kerala Water Authority, told DC that all preparations had been made to ensure water supply to most parts of Beypore region.

"Now the trial is on and we have charged the pipes in about 15-km radius. Moves are on to link the pipelines of other regions with the JICA network," he added. Beypore MLA V.K.C. Mammad Koya told DC that it was the first step towards ensuring water supply to the people. Other adjacent regions of Kadalundi, Karuvanthuruthi, parts of Cheruvannur and Feroke would be linked to the JICA network soon. "A section of Cheruvannur across the national highway will be off the network as the National Highway Authority refused to lay pipes across the road," he said.

The pipe-laying to Karuvanthuruthi will be completed by February. In the total 1,600-km-long distribution network, the major portions are over. The Rs. 800-crore project was launched in 2007 and partially commissioned in 2015. Water scarcity would be a thing of the past in the city at least till 2036 as the giant well, the source of water, is located in the Peruvannamoozhy reservoir.