In a major relief to the residents, water supply will not be disrupted in the city from Monday morning as per schedule since the maintenance works at the Aluva pumping station has been put off.
According to District Collector P I Sheik Pareeth, the decision to reschedule the repair works at Aluva was taken since the disruption of water supply on a working day will hamper the functioning of offices and hospitals.
“It was brought to my notice that the water supply will be cut off from Monday owing to the repair work at the pumping station. Talks were held with the deputy chief engineers, and other officials on Sunday to put off the work,” he said, and added that the officials were told to reschedule the work for a weekend, most probably next Sunday.
“It would only require three to four hours of maintenance work. Also, on Sundays the public won’t be affected much.”
Meanwhile, the Collector has also informed officials to coordinate and plan such works in a way that will not affect the public.
As per schedule, water supply was to be disrupted in the Greater Cochin area from Monday since the Kerala State Electricity Board had planned to cut the mainline of the pumping station for repair work from 6 am to 6 pm. However, there are chances that water won’t reach parts of the city and the suburbs in the following two or three days.
Kakkanad, Aluva, Kalamassery, Eloor, Thrikkakara, Choornikkara, Keezhmad, Kadungalloor, Varapuzha, Elamkunnappuzha, Njarakkal, Chellanam, Kumbalangi, Cheranelloor and Mulavukadu areas get affected since the functioning of the Vaduthala, Pachalam and Thammanam pump houses will be disrupted whenever the Aluva pumping station is shut for repair.
Areas in the city from Edappally are also likely to be affected during maintenance works. However, Thevara and certain parts in West Kochi will not be affected as an old pumping line supplies water. Similarly, areas in Tripunithura will not be affected since water is being pumped from the Muvattupuzha river, officials said.
Currently, the pumping station in Aluva produces a total of 250 million litres per day (MLD). KWA officials say that there is already a huge shortage in water being supplied to Kochi.
Meanwhile, once the Rs 210-crore drinking water project from Pazhoor to West Kochi comes into affect, 100 MLD of water can be generated, officials said.