KOLLAM: The ambitious Chavara – Panmana drinking water project of the Kerala Water Authority and the Jalanidhi with World Bank aid envisaged to serve over one-lakh customers is now in murky waters. The Rs 58-crore project started in 2011 with the motto ‘a tap at each household’ fails to cater to the needs of the public already struck with severe drinking water scarcity. The Chavara grama panchayat has raised serious corruption allegations against Jalanidhi and demanded a vigilance probe. The project has 21,406 household connections across Panmana and Chavara panchayats.
The water pumped from Sasthamkotta Lake to the overhead tank at Kottathumukku goes to Panmana and the water in overhead tanks in Payyalakkavu, Chambettikkavu, and Kottankulangara to Chavara. The Jalanidhi distributes the water to the households in these areas. “The scuffle between the panchayats and the Jalanidhi started with the payment defaults of nearly Rs 4 crore with the Kerala Water Authority," an official requesting anonymity told DC.
"The panchayats allege the Jalanidhi failed to pay the bills even after it collects Rs 5 per kilolitre from consumers. An Adalat held in February last year slashed 50% of the actual amount, even after which the Jalanidhi failed to pay dues.” People also allege that the rate cut at the Adalat was not refunded. The Chavara panchayat governing council has served a notice to the Jalanidhi alleging that it had failed to produce sufficient data for local fund audit. It unanimously decided to request for a vigilance probe. Meanwhile, the Jalanidhi authorities denied the allegations and said it did not receive any request from the panchayat for a local fund audit.
