“We get potable water only during elections. Otherwise, we have to bear with the shortage,” Kacchu C.K. of Thonichira says this as she keeps her pots in a line for the drinking water being distributed by a local businessman. She is among the 200-odd residents living between Erunthupalam and Thonichira within the Kozhikode City Corporation who get potable water only on alternate days. “We get only hard water from the open wells. We don’t know if it is safe for cooking and other needs,” she says.
Ms. Kacchu says their demands for potable water are met only during the election time as local politicians would vie with each other to ensure their votes.
Fysal K.V., secretary of the Maithri Residents Association, says there were two public water taps in the area.
“But in summer, we get water from only one of them, that too only on alternate days,” he says.
He attributes their plight to the lack of pressure the residents could exert on the elected representatives. “We have only 50-60 families within a radius of 1 km, most of who are labourers. We don’t come out in the open and raise our voice on a public platform,” Mr. Fysal says.
Recently, seeing their plight, the local village officer offered help. He asked them to install two large water tanks in the area and promised to fill them frequently.
“But that too became infrequent as the village officer has only one tanker lorry to distribute water. They give priority to areas where there is more population,” says Mr. Fysal.
A local businessman too is distributing water, two pots per family, on alternate days.
Their final hope is the drinking water project supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
“Though we asked the authorities for individual water connection, they said it was not possible. After the intervention of V.K.C. Mammad Koya, MLA, they promised to install a public water tap for us as part of the project,” Mr. Fysal adds.
