Kuttanad dips into drinking water crisis

KOCHI: Summer is the cruellest for the people of Kuttanad as drinking water would be the most sought-after thing in Kuttanad. The waterlogged areas of Kuttanad like Chambakulam, Edathua, Kainakary and Thayankari are reeling under acute shortage of potable water.  According to the people in Edathua, more than six wards of the panchayat have no water pipeline connection and the drinking water is brought here in boats from distant places. “We have been deprived of water for the last several weeks. The wells have dried up and the rivers have turned murky with the depleting water levels. The water pipeline that was laid decades ago has not been functioning for more than eight years. The Water Authority is yet to repair the defunct pipeline. The drinking water tankers also rarely appear here. “We have submitted requests to the Water Authority, MLA and the District Collector but no one heeds to our woes.“ MLA Thomas Chandy had promised that all houses in Kuttanad would be given water connections. But even after six years since he became the MLA not even a single house in Edathua panchayat was given water connection,” Joseph Xavier, a resident said.  With the water level going down each day, people fear that Thanneermukkom barrage would be opened and fresh water would turn saline. “Usually, in summer, the water would turn saline with the opening of the Thanneermukkom bund. We are planning to stage a dharna in front of the collectorate and the MLA’s residence so that the authorities can understand the gravity of the situation and take some action. Every summer the situation is the same,” said Catherine Antony, a member of Edathua panchayat. Officials in the district administration said that they had made necessary arrangements for tackling the water shortage in Kuttanad. “We have allotted additional tankers for providing drinking water. Besides, permission has also been granted to the panchayats to dig bore wells. This year the situation is more severe as the summer season started earlier. “Water level in lakes and rivers have already started to go down. By March end and early weeks of April the water crisis would become more acute,” the officials said.