Alappuzha: The residents of Alappuzha, who are frequently flooded, are now starved of drinking water due to the recurring pipe bursts in the supply line. The latest disruption occurred two week ago on the Ambalappuha- Thiruvalla state highway stretch.
The Rs 200-crore, 300-km pipeline for the drinking water project in Alappuzha was laid under the Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns with central assistance in 2017. So far pipe bursts have occurred 43 times forcing the critics to compare it with the Palarivattom flyover fiasco.Mr T.J. Anjalose, CPI district secretary, has demanded a probe into the irregularities in the project and the disproportionate assets owned by the bureaucrats concerned. During the past 900 days, water supply was disrupted on 300 days and the government has spent Rs 6 lakh each time the pipe bursts occurred, he said.
The district Congress unit and the BJP have also demanded a probe into the issue. They had conducted protests against the official apathy the other day.
The water woes in Alappuzha municipality and eight adjoining panchayats continue since the PWD has refused to give consent to dig the road. The Water Authority is currently supplying water to residents through tankers and tubewell connections.
At least Rs. 1.5 crore has been spent so far for repairs. The government has already given administrative sanction to replace the pipe at Thakazhy at a cost of Rs. 14.7 crore, for which technical sanction is awaited.
