The prolonged dispute between the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) and the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) over water dues has been resolved, with the board releasing ₹8.30 crore towards water charges incurred largely towards facilitating the Sabarimala pilgrimage.
According to KWA officials, the TDB had accumulated arrears amounting to ₹15.98 crore for water supplied to Sabarimala, Nilackal, Pampa, and along the route to the Sannidhanam. After calculating the entire outstanding dues till October 2025, the board made a payment of ₹8.30 crore on January 16, 2026.
“With this payment, the TDB has paid a total of ₹27.58 crore to the KWA between July 2024 and December 2025. Earlier, the KWA had granted a concession of ₹2.68 crore by waiving the penalty amount. All disputes related to arrears between the two parties now stand resolved,” a KWA official said.
Meanwhile, the board’s drinking water bill from the recent pilgrimage season until January 1 totals ₹2.63 crore. The High Court has directed that this amount be cleared within two weeks. The court has also directed the government to consider extending the bulk water rate, a classification currently applicable only to local bodies, to this case.
Apart from the board, several other government institutions in Pathanamthitta district owe substantial dues to the KWA. These include the Pathanamthitta General Hospital with arrears of ₹4.90 crore, Konni Medical College with ₹33 lakh, five Mini Civil Stations with ₹1.83 crore, and the office of the District Police Superintendent with ₹2.64 lakh.
The KWA had earlier disconnected water supply to the Mini Civil Station at Aranmula, which was later restored following the intervention of the District Collector. However, the arrears remain unpaid. Officials said multiple notices have already been issued to these institutions, citing the KWA’s own financial constraints.
Published – January 20, 2026 05:54 pm IST
