Call grows louder for new water tank at Thammanam in Kochi
The new tank at Thammanam was proposed following the partial collapse of the 1.35-crore-litre water tank, which had triggered a temporary drinking water crisis in the city
The call for a new 35-lakh-litre water tank at Thammanam in Kochi has gained momentum, months after the existing tank partially collapsed. The issue has been reignited following T.J. Vinod, the MLA, advocating for the inclusion of the project in the ADB-funded initiative to combat water scarcity. The original 1.35-crore-litre tank was proposed after a partial collapse triggered a temporary drinking water crisis in the city.
Vinod took to social media to demand accountability for the French firm SUEZ, responsible for the operation and maintenance of the Kerala Water Authority’s (KWA) assets. He emphasized that the city's drinking water problems cannot be solved by merely laying pipelines and stressed the necessity of a new water storage tank. Vinod suggested that if alternative funding methods are required, the ADB loan should be used first for constructing the water tank, with the remaining loan funds allocated to other projects, including pipeline work.
According to KWA sources, the design and proposal for the new water storage tank were submitted in November the previous year, but administrative approval is still pending. Once approved, the remaining procedures should be relatively straightforward, as KWA land is designated for the tank construction, eliminating any land acquisition delays.
A KWA representative noted that the contract with the French firm was signed based on data from 2017, and since then, several aging pipelines have been replaced, potentially rendering future replacements unnecessary. The estimated cost of the proposed tank is projected to be under ₹30 crore, which could be incorporated under the ADB-funded project.
However, SUEZ representatives clarified that constructing water reservoirs is not part of their contract with KWA. They emphasized that the areas consistently experiencing water shortages include Pachalam, Vaduthala, Kaloor, and parts of Karuvelippadi. Nonetheless, the contract does not encompass the construction of a new water storage tank.
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