Perumpadappu residents protest over severe water crisis in Kochi

Residents of Perumpadappu Protest Water Shortage

Residents of Perumpadappu, Palluruthy, marched to the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) regional office on Monday, January 12. They aimed to highlight the acute water shortage in their area. After protesting, they met with authorities to discuss their situation.

Residents reported that access to drinking water has been severely affected for the past month. The water supplied to them has been contaminated with dirt and high salinity levels.

More than 100 families in the area have had to rely on bottled water for their daily needs.

KWA Response to Water Issues

KWA sources stated that the issue is a top priority and efforts are ongoing to resolve it. “We have been trying to locate the leak but could not identify it despite checks. We are still working on it. There is a section of pipe in the locality that goes underneath a drain. If the leak cannot be identified in this part, directions have been given to replace that section of the pipe,” they said.

Residents Share Their Experiences

Anil Anandan, 46, a local resident, recalled when people could drink water directly from public taps. “If you do it now, you will instantly fall sick,” he said, noting his reliance on bottled water.

“The sale of water has become a booming business now as people are forced to purchase water. We end up buying five to six bottles per week. The water from the utility is heavily contaminated and is blackish in color at times,” he added.

Local Councillor Addresses the Crisis

Likhitha N.X., the councillor for Division 60, Perumpadappu, emphasized the seriousness of the issue. “We are putting pressure on the authorities to address the issue at the earliest. People are finding it difficult to even feed children. We are arranging tanker lorries to supply water as an interim measure, but that is not the solution,” said Ms. Likhitha.

Health Concerns from Contaminated Water

K.P. Manilal, a 60-year-old resident on Sree Narayana Road, expressed his concerns. “Earlier, we faced water scarcity. Now, we are grappling with contaminated water, which could lead to the spread of contagious diseases. My ancestral house is nearby, so I collect water from there. Others are forced to buy water,” said Mr. Manilal.