The Times of India              28.10.2013  

Much-awaited relief for Kozhikode's water woes

KOZHIKODE: From next summer, people residing in the city as well as those in 13 grama panchayats nearby will have better access to drinking water. The multi-crore Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) -assisted drinking water project is set for commissioning in April 2014.

The Rs 805.6 crore project aims to provide 174 MLD (million litres per day) water from the Peruvannamuzhi reservoir to Kozhikode city and the 13 grama panchayats of Balussery, Nanmanda, Kakkoor, Kakkodi, Chelannur, Narikuni, Kunnamangalam, Kurivattoor, Peruvayal, Perumanna, Kadalundi, Olavanna and Thalakulathur. The project will benefit 13 lakh people.

According to JICA project officials, 85% of transmission line works has been completed. Of the 123 kilometres of transmission lines, only a 120-metre stretch at Feroke railway land and another 40-metre stretch at Mattampally remain. Work has also been completed on 17 of the 20 reservoirs. Of this, works on reservoirs proposed at Kakkodi and Thalakulathur have already started and that of the reservoir at Narikuni will begin soon.

The works of reservoirs will complete in 2014, February.

Besides, nearly 60% work of the intake well at Peruvannamuzhi is over.

The work on fixing the floating intake well after conducing rock explosion at river bed is remaining.

The works will over by March 2014. The works of water treatment plant having the 174 mld output is nearing completion. Only 50% of the work on the distribution network has been completed as yet.

Of the 1,854 km distribution lines, JICA officials could complete work only along 925 km. JICA is yet to get permission from the PWD and National Highway Authority of India to dig up roads along 160 km to lay distribution lines.

Delay in receiving sanction from PWD and NHAI for digging roads has held up the laying of distribution lines along 160km.

JICA project director K G Harshan said that once the JICA-aided drinking water project is commissioned, KWA will able to allot up to 1 lakh immediate water connections. "KWA has already received around 47,000 applications for domestic water connections. The city needs about 140 MLD water, but at present KWA is able to distribute only 50 MLD after distribution loss Supply of drinking water is mostly affected during summer," he said. "With the commissioning of the JICA-aided project,Kozhikode will get 174 MLD water over and above the current amount of 50 MLD, reducing existing water woes during summer," said Harshan.

Referring to the pipe-laying for distribution lines, the project director said he has already expressed concern over the delay in getting permission to dig up roads under the PWD and NHAI.

"The JICA project office has already remitted Rs 30 crore as road reformation fee to PWD and NHAI to receive sanction for laying distribution lines. We hope to complete 75% of the distribution line works by March 2014. Of the Rs 805.6 crore, JICA has already spent Rs 600 crore. We need to utilize the remaining amount by April 2014, else the fund will get lapsed as the tenure of the JICA loan ends in April 2014," he said.

Deputy mayor P T Abdul Latheef said that the project will be a relief to city residents who have been finding it difficult to access potable water during summer. "Water scarcity is a major issue in the city. We hope the authorities will carry out the road works without creating trouble for the public," he said.