THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Encroachments over the drinking water pipelines continue to haunt the Kerala Water Authority (KWA). If it was the encroachment over the Peroorkada-Kowdiar stretch that left the KWA in the lurch some two years back, sources with the Authority have confirmed that more cases have been reported from other parts of the city.The latest in the list is the stretch from Lenin Nagar near the Observatory to Oottukuzhy. The 600-mm cast iron pipe of the KWA takes treated water from the Observatory to Kovalam along this route. On condition of anonymity, an official with the KWA told this paper that there was enough evidence to prove that buildings have come over this particular pipeline. “Religious institutions and private establishments were already there around it. Now an apartment complex has come up right over the pipeline. This means, it could not have happened without the knowledge of somebody within the KWA,” the official added. According to KWA Managing Director Asok Kumar Singh, encroachments have come to the notice of the Authority. “We have appointed a special officer and he is working on the issue,” he said. Suryanarayanan, a retired civil servant, has been appointed Special Officer- Land Reforms, to look into the matter. When contacted, Suryanarayanan said: “Encroachments are there, it is true. I am collecting the necessary information to get a clear picture.” It is to be noted that the encroachment over the 33-inch cast iron pipe which takes water from Aruvikkara to Observatory had created an uproar in mid-2008. The stretch in question was the Peroorkada-Kowdiar stretch. In fact, a Cabinet subcommittee was appointed to deal with encroachments, with special reference to the Pipeline Road at Kowdiar that time. The line passes through at least six properties here, which include the office of the KWA Engineers’ Association as well. Even the trade unions of KWA had taken a protest march demanding action. But a concrete action is still awaited!The same pipeline has been encroached upon near Salvation Army also. “At least some 40 families are residing around this pipeline. The lifespan of this pipeline is 50 years and it has now crossed 75 years. Just imagine the enormity of damage it would cause to life and property if something untoward happens,” said K S Praveen, general secretary of Graduate Engineers Association, the Assistant Executive Engineer with Kowdiar section. Sources have also confirmed that a new construction which has come up near Devaswom Board junction has carried out some extension activities encroaching upon this pipeline. It may be recalled that a case was brought before the Lok Ayukta sometime back to look into the pipeline encroachments. The KWA even framed procedures to clear the encroachments and to prevent new ones in future. But due to unknown reasons, nothing concrete came out of that case.
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