Water's a pipe dream here

Water's a pipe dream here

KOCHI: Perumbavoor Taluk hospital has been on the news for past few weeks with politicians and top bureaucrats making a beeline to visit Rajeshwari, mother of Jisha who was brutally raped and murdered at her residence on April 28. However, none of them noticed the lack of various facilities at the hospital. Major one among them, the lack of potable water. The hospital has been facing water scarcity for past few months! Maternity ward is most affected.

The ward, which can accommodate over 30 patients, is adjacent to the main hospital building. Though the hospital authorities have installed a water vending machine it has also gone defunct.

“This is the ward which requires a lot of water, but the pipes here have gone dry. The water vending machine installed here takes three hours to dispense a bottle. Though we have brought this to the notice of the hospital authorities they are yet to act upon it,” said Chandrika, a patient.

The hospital depends on a well and the Municipality to meet its water requirement. This is not sufficient to meet the daily need. The hospital has a very busy maternity ward which witnesses 35 deliveries in a month.

“Water is required most in the night, but the supply is restricted to 5 pm to 7 pm in the evening and 6am to 8am in the morning,” said a patient’s mother.

The potable water shortage began after the dialysis unit started functioning at the hospital a few months back. Authorities say, “10,000 litres of water is needed for the unit.”

“So far we have not received any complaints from the inmates about drinking water shortage. The election code of conduct prevents us from launching a new project under which bore wells will be dug inside the hospital premises. The District Collector has sanctioned the project,” said Suma, superintendent of the taluk hospital.

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