The preventive measures taken by the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) to avoid the wastage of potable water during this summer season are yet to produce the desired results even as several villages in the district reel under water shortage.
Pipe bursts continue to be a major crisis in several areas in the city, with pleas for immediate repair falling on deaf ears.
A helpline newly announced by the KWA is also not functioning. Residents say that pipe bursts reported to the KWA on public holidays are ignored and as a result, a huge quantity of potable water is wasted for several hours even during the summer season.
Recently, the pipelines along Mavoor Road, Gandhi road and Medical College Road had burst several times disrupting the water supply in the area. The delay in repairing the lines had resulted in the wastage of huge quantity of treated water.
Damage of pipelines during the construction works by private contractors too has resulted in leakage of water. An order earlier issued by the Revenue Department making prior permission mandatory for carrying out civil works in public places too is largely ignored.
“It is not just the water wastage alone that troubles the public, but, the roads in the area that get damaged due to the delayed repair after pipe bursts,” said S. Jayakrishnan, a resident near Kozhikode Medical College.
Meanwhile, a KWA official said that there were only a few cases where the repair work was carried out late.
“The KWA squads are working almost fulltime and there is no deliberate laxity on their part,” he said.
Complaints received through helpline too have been recorded and it will be addressed based on the priority, he said.
