Kochi Corporation, KWA explore water connections for residents of ERG Colony

After decades of drawing water from a roadside public tap, 23 families of ERG Colony, situated on railway poramboke land behind the Kerala High Court in Ayyappankkavu division of Kochi Corporation, may finally glimpse relief.

Consultations are underway between the Corporation and the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) on providing household connections, sparing residents the daily ordeal of crossing the road to fetch water. The matter was taken up after Aam Aadmi Party Ernakulam district secretary Sujith C. Sukumaran, who had unsuccessfully contested from the division in the last local body polls, lodged a complaint on the Chief Minister’s portal.

“The colony has been denied water connections on the ground that part of it lies on railway poramboke, which could have been overcome by securing permission from the Railways. A hotel adjacent to the colony already enjoys a connection,” Mr. Sukumaran pointed out.

Authorities clarify

Deputy Mayor and division councillor Deepak Joy said the water connection for the colony was originally included under the Amrut project, which lapsed last year. The proposal could not be pursued previously as the road had only recently been laid to BMBC standards and could not be dug up. “Securing Railway permission for laying a pipeline remains a tough proposition. As an interim measure, we are considering shifting the public tap closer to the colony from across the road. Simultaneously, consultations with KWA are on to explore the possibility of providing individual connections,” he said.

Both agencies have since written to Mr. Sukumaran outlining steps initiated. A communication from the Corporation’s Assistant Executive Engineer stated that an agenda has been placed before the Works Standing Committee seeking KWA’s detailed estimate and plan for laying the pipeline, which will subsequently be submitted to the Railways for clearance. Follow-up measures will be taken once the committee grants approval.

Works Standing Committee chairperson T.K. Asharaf said that the matter will be taken up at the next meeting on Saturday.

The KWA, in its communication, reiterated the need for Railway permission and noted that it lacked independent funding for the project. The work, it said, could be taken up only with financial support from the local body. Execution of the project will begin once funds and Railway clearance are secured, the executive engineer added.