Water crisis grips residents of Perumpadappu in Kochi

With acute water shortage gripping their locality, residents of Perumpadappu, Palluruthy, marched to the regional office of the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) here on Monday (January 12), in an effort to draw attention to the issue. After protesting in front of the office, the residents met the authorities and apprised them of the situation in their locality.

According to the residents, access to drinking water has been severely affected for the past month, with the water supplied to them being contaminated with dirt and high salinity levels.

The 100-plus families living in the locality have been forced to depend on bottled water for their daily requirements.

According to KWA sources, the issue is being given utmost priority and is being rectified. “We have been trying to locate the leak, but could not identify it despite carrying out checks. We are still working on it. There is a section of pipe in the locality that goes underneath a drain. If the leak cannot be identified in this part, then directions have been given to replace that section of the pipe,” they said.

Anil Anandan, 46, who has been living in the locality, recalled a time when residents could drink water directly from public taps. “If you do it now, you will instantly fall sick,” said Mr. Anandan, who has been relying on bottled water.

“Sale of water has become a booming business now as people are forced to purchase water. We end up buying five to six bottles per week. The water that comes from the utility is heavily contaminated and is blackish in colour at times,” he said.

Likhitha N.X., councillor representing Division 60, Perumpadappu, said the issue carried immense gravity as people were deprived of their basic needs. “We are putting pressure on the authorities to address the issue at the earliest. People are finding it difficult to even feed children. We are arranging tanker lorries to supply water as an interim measure, but that is not the solution,” said Ms. Likhitha.

K.P. Manilal, a 60-year-old resident who lives on Sree Narayana Road, said, “Earlier, we were faced with scarcity of water. Now, we are grappling with contaminated water, which could lead to the spread of contagious diseases. My ancestral house is nearby, so I collect water from there. Others are forced to buy water,” said Mr. Manilal.