KOCHI: For the 150-odd families of south Cheralai, the painstaking wait for a drop of potable water has become a routine. People in the area have been putting up with acute water shortage for nearly 45 days with no one coming to their aid.
Cheralayi at Mattanchery used to receive potable water in the morning and evening between 5.30 and 7.30 .However, the water supply is haywire and working women have to bear its brunt most. Despite repeated complaints to Kerala Water Authority officials on various occasions the condition has only worsened this summer.
Sanatana Pai, secretary, Udayaneswaram Residents Association, Mattanchery, said, “There are nearly 50 to 55 homes in a street having nearly 150 families in this region, but there are only four public taps in the area. It is tough especially for women. When we contacted the pumping station we were informed that the timing had changed. With the change in timing there is no way we can collect water. Earlier, there was supply between 5.30 and 7.30, which is the time when most office goers are at home. The sad part is that a water tank built at Mattanchery spending crores remains unused to this day owing to the leak issue. Despite repeated complaints to the Executive and Assistant Engineer no action has been taken so far. The councillor also seems apathetic to the issue.”
Rama Jithendrababu, a resident of the area said, “Most of the time we get maybe one pot of water a day, which is used for cooking. There are five members in my family and the water is not even enough for cooking,” Rama, an employee with an exporting company in Kumbalam, points out that families that do not have borewell in the house are most hit.
Executive Engineer at KWA, Karuvelipady said the issue arose after the water supply timing at Fort Kochi and Mattanchery was split. “Earlier, the supply was simultaneous. A problem has come up after we split the timing. We are trying to rectify it.”