Latest news with #KWA
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Police register case over bad roads in Kochi
Kochi: Palarivattom police registered a case against the contractor deployed by Indian Oil Adani Gas Private Ltd (IOAGPL) and a private individual who are allegedly responsible for the poor condition of four roads in the area. Police registered a case under Prevention of Damage to Public Property (PDPP) Act based on a complaint that the roads dug up by KWA and IOAGPL were not restored to their original standards. "Thammanam-Pulleppady Road, PJ Antony Road, Mahakavi Vailoppilli Road and Nandanath Kachacko Road in Palarivattom area have been remaining in a dilapidated condition for the past several years. When I submitted an RTI application seeking whether the local body gave nod to dig up any of these roads, reply from the main office of corporation was that they gave approval to dig up only Thammanam-Pulleppady Road. Approval was given to a person called Divya Roslin for 15 days in Dec 2024. I think she may be the contractor deployed by other agencies. Police are yet to identify her," said Firdous Ammanath, a lawyer who filed the case. "Other three roads were dug up without permission. As per a govt directive issued in 2024, those digging up a road should restore it as per its original standard. I lodged a complaint with Palarivattom police seeking action against those responsible for the poor condition of roads. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo As police failed to take action, I moved judicial first-class magistrate court, Ernakulam, which asked police to register a case," Ammanath said. Several other roads in the city are in a dilapidated condition. "Agencies like IOAGPL, KWA and telecom service providers used to dig up roads, and in several cases, this is done without permission. Lack of proper monitoring on the part of road-owning agencies like Kochi corporation and PWD is one of the reasons for the increasing number of unauthorized road cuttings," said corporation opposition leader Antony Kureethara. Mayor M Anilkumar said corporation would ensure proper restoration of roads. "In certain cases, contractors are not ready to undertake such works. Anyway, we will strengthen monitoring to nab offenders," he said. On Palarivattom police registering a case, he said, "Law will take its own course." Though TOI tried to get the response of IOAGPL officials, they didn't reply. KWA officials feigned ignorance about roads not being restored after the agency dug them up.
Time of India
2 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Water contamination in KWA pipes persists in Fort Kochi
Kochi: Residents of Fort Kochi have been facing the issue of water contamination for at least three months. Kerala Water Authority (KWA) has failed to tackle the issue and provide clean water to the residents. Demanding a solution to the issue, the residents had taken to the streets several times. "We have been bringing the issue to the notice of KWA officials for the past few months. But KWA is still unable to identify the reason for contamination. The officials just speculate that contamination might be caused by water pipelines passing through drains. They said old, dilapidated pipes burst and contaminated water from the drains gushed into them. But KWA officials are unable to identify the areas where pipes burst have occured, contaminating the pipe water," said Antony Kureethra, councillor from Fort Kochi division. "The water contamination issue exists at many places in Fort Kochi and Kalvathy divisions and also in some parts of Vypeen," he added. Residents are hence forced to procure water from private suppliers. "Several families are finding it difficult to buy water from private suppliers as charges are high. We collected water from the KWA pipeline in our area and took it to KWA office in Fort Kochi. It was visibly contaminated. Discolouration and a foul smell emanating from the water suggested that it was contaminated. But KWA has failed to take any mitigating measures," said former mayor K J Sohan. Many roads and drains were reconstructed under projects like Smart City. During such works, many KWA pipes burst. This is another reason for water contamination, said locals. According to KWA officials, a shortage of workers is one of the reasons for delay in carrying out repair works. "We are trying to procure labourers for repair works. There are certain issues with identifying the leakage spots too. Anyway, we are making all efforts for repair works," said a KWA official.
Time of India
25-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Desilting of Aruvikkara dam starts, to up storage capacity
Thiruvananthapuram: With the aim of increasing Aruvikkara reservoir's capacity, thereby helping resolve the shortage of drinking water in the state capital, desilting the dam has begun and is expected to be completed within one year. The city depends on Aruvikkara reservoir for its water needs but silt has reduced its capacity by half. Divine Shipping Services, a Gujarat-based agency, has begun desilting work of the reservoir. The agency has to pay Rs 14 crore to Kerala Irrigation Infrastructure Development Corporation (KIIDC) for doing the work. In return, the agency can take possession of the huge quantity of sand, clay and silt being removed from the reservoir. The agency paid Rs 1.3 crore to KIIDC for the first phase of work. Completion of all work phases is expected in 12 months. "Sediments take up 25ft in the reservoir with 46ft depth and water occupies only about 11ft. One lakh cubic feet of sand, clay and silt are expected to be cleared in the first phase," said a KIIDC officer. "Due to massive deposition of silt, the dam's capacity decreased to 43%. The reservoir has a capacity to store 2 million cubic metres of water but presently, it can store only less than 1 million cubic metres," said a Kerala Water Authority (KWA) officer. Divine Shipping Services has divided the reservoir into eight sections by creating bunds using earth. Presently, the work of removing silt from two sections is underway. This is done without polluting water in the other sections to avoid disrupting the drinking water supply to the city. "After the first phase, the agency has to pay the remaining amount to continue work in the other sections. The work is closely monitored by a team of officials to prevent water in other sections getting polluted. There was a delay in beginning the work after it was awarded to the agency as KWA's permission was needed for cutting some trees inside the reservoir area," said the KIIDC officer. The official said that the reservoir was built in 1933 and it hasn't been desilted since then. "The reservoir carries the silt of 90 years. One can imagine how huge the quantity of deposited silt is. Once desiltation is done, the reservoir can store water to meet the city's needs for six months," the officer added. Clearing Deposit Aruvikkara reservoir depth- 46ft Sediments - 25ft Water depth - 11ft Divine Shipping Services has begun desilting work It has to pay Rs 14 crore to KIIDC Reservoir divided into 8 sections for desilting Work presently on in 2 sections
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Over Rs 1crore allocated for coastal protection in Vypeen
Kochi : As demand grows for protective walls along coastal areas to prevent sea erosion in Vypeen region during monsoon season, state govt has allocated Rs 1.83 crore for constructing these protective walls. K N Unnikrishnan, MLA, informed that temporary protective walls using geotubes will be constructed at 13 locations utilizing the allocated funds. "Walls will be built in Edavanakkad panchayat 's wards 13 and 9, ward 12 of Nayarambalam, ward 1 of Njarakkal panchayat and wards 1 and 13 of Kuzhuppilly panchayat , as well as wards 1 and 14 of Pallippuram panchayat. A total of Rs 64.8 lakh will be spent in Edavanakkad, Rs 39.6 lakh in Nayarambalam, Rs 37.6 lakh in Njarakkal, Rs 20 lakh in Kuzhuppilly and Rs 24.53 lakh in Pallippuram. Tender will be opened for works next week, and works will begin soon," said the MLA. Steps to address drinking water shortage Unnikrishnan said the process to install a KSEB feeder line to avoid power interruptions at Chovvara water treatment plant will be expedited as part of measures to combat drinking water shortage in Vypeen region. The MLA said a meeting convened on Wednesday to discuss water shortage has requested KWA to pay KSEB Rs 4.41 crore for the project, as early as possible. He said the Rs 10-crore worth drinking water supply project of Goshree Islands Development Authority (Gida) in Munambam area would be expedited. "Further actions will be taken to implement the report prepared by National Institute of Ocean Technology for establishing a 10 mld (million litres per day) capacity desalination plant in Pallipuram Munambam area," he said.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Kerala Water Authority showcases water treatment model at ‘Ente Keralam' expo
Kochi: The stall set up by Kerala Water Authority (KWA) at Ente Keralam 2025 trade fair, held in connection with the fourth anniversary celebrations of the LDF govt at Marine Drive, is attracting many. KWA has set up a miniature model of a water treatment plant that showcases pumping water from the river, purifying through various stages and delivering to people via pipelines. As the public is not allowed to enter KWA plants, the miniature model helps the visitors to understand the water purification processes. "Three employees worked diligently for a month to create the model which replicates the plant's exact design. A KWA team is also there to explain the operations to the public," said a KWA official. The model of the purification plant was constructed by KWA employees E D Sanal, C K Vinod and M B Vinod. A lab for testing wastewater is also set up at the spot.
