The residents of Kochi are grappling with a severe drinking water shortage after two consecutive pipeline bursts near the Kochi Metro viaduct at Kaloor. The incidents, which occurred on Thursday night and again on Monday night, have severely impacted water distribution to several crucial parts of the city.
Metro Piling Work Triggers Dual Pipeline Failures
The crisis began when a 300mm pipeline carrying water directly from the Aluva treatment plant burst on Thursday night. The rupture happened adjacent to the Kaloor Metro viaduct, where piling work for the Palarivattom-Kakkanad Metro line was underway using an earth mover. Before the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) could fully repair the first damage, another point on the same pipeline burst nearby on Monday night, exacerbating the situation.
Widespread Supply Disruption and Delayed Repair
The dual bursts have led to a significant disruption in drinking water supply to numerous areas. Key localities affected include:
- Kaloor
- Cheranelloor
- Kadavanthra
- Edappally
KWA officials stated that resolving the first burst is dependent on acquiring a specific clamp to fix the pipeline, which was expected only by Monday night. The second rupture has further delayed restoration efforts, leaving citizens in the lurch.
Public Outcry and Allegations of Negligence
Frustrated by the prolonged disruption, Congress functionaries led by Uma Thomas blocked Banerji Road on Monday night. They demanded immediate action from authorities to restore water supply. Uma Thomas highlighted the severity of the crisis, stating that people across the city are suffering due to the back-to-back pipe bursts.
She leveled serious allegations against the agencies overseeing the Metro work, claiming the project is being carried out "without proper supervision" and "adequate precautions." Thomas alleged that the executing agency is not consulting utility sketches, including those of KWA pipelines, during excavation, leading to frequent damage. "After we called up Kochi Metro Rail Ltd managing director Loknath Behera and briefed him, a few officials arrived at the spot," she said, criticizing the reactive rather than proactive approach.
The protestors and affected residents argue that such incidents cause not just water scarcity but also traffic chaos, and authorities must take definitive "legwork" to prevent them in the future. The situation underscores the critical need for coordinated planning between infrastructure development agencies and public utility providers in urban spaces.
