Meet to discuss potable water shortage

KOCHI: The Kochi Corporation will convene a high-level meeting with Water Resources Minister P J Joseph and officials of various departments to discuss the issue of severe potable water shortage in the city. Mayor Tony Chammany said that the corporation will seek the support of the state government to solve the issue. He also pointed out that the implementation of water distribution projects in the city, like the Pazhoor Project, requires the cooperation of various departments including the revenue department. He was speaking at the Corporation Council Meeting held in Kochi on Thursday. The Pazhoor project has been facing hurdles since it requires land aqcuisition and also the cutting the 9.5 km stretch of road from Piravom to Mulanthuruthy. These issues are expected to be solved in the meeting involving the Water Resources Minister, to be held at the Government Guest House on April 21 at 2pm. The mayor noted that the maintenance contract work of the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) was ineffective due to lack of funds. He added that although an estimate has been prepared for the replacement work of the old and rusty underground pipelines in the Fort Kochi area, the leakages and faults in the existing ones should be repaired in a timely manner. Meanwhile, opposition councillor P S Prakash alleged that 25 per cent of the water meant for distribution in the West Kochi area is being illegally diverted to the Chellanam and Kumbalangi areas. Councillor Mumtaz Teacher pointed out that the KWA office at Karuvelippady faces acute staff shortage and hence it unable to execute many of its works.