Water crisis in Kandakkadavu

KOCHI: Even during the heavy monsoon showers, the Chellanam panchayat is reeling under acute potable water shortage. Being an area situated  next to the sea, the major source of potable  water for the people in this area is the water supplied by the Kerala Water Authority and in tanker lorries.  But the situation has worsened recently. The residents, especially those residing at Kandakkadavu and South Chellanam  say they have not been gettin'g even a single drop of water for the last one month.Meanwhile a top official of the Chellanam panchayat office said that being an area located near to the sea, shortage of drinking water has always been a major issue at Chellanam.  “Though the panchayat has taken  steps needed  to solve the water crisis to a certain extent, technical problems may sometimes disrupt the supply of  water. For instance, the recent delay in the water supply is due to the damage in a valve of the pumping station at the Kandakkadavu pumping station,“ the official added. The official also said that the leak that occurred in the big water pipe laid at Valmuthuku area was another reason for the disruption of the supply of water.  “However, the issue of leakage was sorted out the other day,” the official added. She also said that another major pipeline with leaks in several places is the one laid at Maravukadu.  “If that leakage is also addressed, the shortage of water can be resolved to a considerable extent,” added the official.The residents say now they have to depend solely on the  water supplied through tanker lorries for their water requirements.    They are also planning to organise strong protest measures against the panchayat authorities and KWA if they fail to repair the faulty pipe lines soon.