Adding fuel to the prevailing water woes in the city, District Drinking Water Transporters Welfare Association commenced an indefinite strike on Sunday which was called of the same evening. As many as 400 tanker lorries kept off services. The strike was staged to raise various demands. They wanted a curb on the unnecessary intervention of police and food and safety department officials and to open more water sources for supplying drinking water.
“We staged the strike to protest against the inaction of the district administration in allotting sources from where we can collect water. Also, the dearth of sources is affecting the private water supply industry. Though the administration agreed to convert quarries into sources, nothing has been done so far. Moreover, the food and safety department officials are harassing us with the frequent checks,” the association members said.
Though District Administration and Kerala Water Authority (KWA) have claimed they have resorted to alternative arrangements to resolve the drinking water issues owing to the strike.
“Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had directed the local bodies to supply water in tanker lorries. Now, both the city and rural areas are depending fully on tanker lorries. Also, the functioning of hotels, restaurants, commercial buildings and flats were mostly hit due to the strike,” sources said.
Residential areas were also affected. Areas in Fort Kochi and Mattanchery, Tripunithura and Maradu have been listed under the worst hit places. Drinking water shortage has also hit central Kochi too, in Kaloor, Deshabhimani, Vennala and some parts of Thammanam and Edappally.
The disruption of the KWA last time has only worsened the problem. “The last time we adjusted with the water from tanker lorries when. Hence, we were unable to store water for daily purpose. KWA’s water supply is inadequate and we were unable to get alternative sources on that day. Hence, the unexpected strike was a blow to us,” said a resident of Palarivattom.
The residents in apartments are most affected. “We are depending fully on tanker lorries despite the extra charges enforced by them,” the residents said.