The Hindu 02.12.2013
Taps in city likely to remain dry till noon
Line from Aruvikkara had burst on Saturday
Water supply is likely to remain affected in most parts
of the city at least till noon on Monday after a pipe burst at
Aruvikkara at 8.30 p.m. on Saturday.
The repairs are on, Kerala Water Authority (KWA) sources said.
A
second leak was noticed near the point where the 1,200-mm pre-stressed
concrete (PSC) pipe, carrying water from Aruvikkara to the city, had
burst.
With another pipeline, laid in the late 1930s,
passing adjacent to the 1,200-mm PSC pipe at the particular point, the
digging and replacing of the affected portion could be done only with
extreme caution so as not to disturb the other line. This had slowed
down the entire work.
Both the affected portions,
running a combined length of about 12 metres, were being cut and
replaced with mild-steel pipes. This work could be over by early morning
on Monday, while the rest of the procedures, including charging and
restoration of supply to all areas in the city, might take a few more
hours, S. Santosh, KWA Executive Engineer, Aruvikkara, said.
Work front
“Normal
supply might be restored only around noon, or maybe even a little
later, on Monday. Our efforts are to finish the work as early as
possible,” he said.
The pipe-burst on Saturday, a few
metres from the pumping house at Aruvikkara, was noticed quite early,
which helped in preventing loss of water through the damaged portion.
Repairs had begun around midnight as well, with the hope that supply could be restored by evening on Sunday.
However, the second leak broke all such hopes and the work had been going ever since.
The
areas that were affected, and will continue to be affected on Monday,
included Pattom, Kesavadasapuram, Ulloor, Kudappanakunnu, Medical
College region and a few areas in and around Peroorkada, to mention a
few. Alternative arrangements via water tankers were made for supply to
places including the Medical College Hospital on Sunday, officials said.
People in need of water could contact: 85476 38181 to arrange for tankers.
