Opposition councillors in the Maradu municipality of Kochi district staged a forceful protest on Tuesday against the Kerala Water Authority (KWA), demanding immediate action to resolve a severe drinking water shortage that has plagued the Maradu and Nettoor regions for nearly three weeks. The agitation took place in front of the KWA office in Tripunithura, where councillors accused engineers and local officials of failing to respond effectively to residents’ distress.
The councillors, led by members of the Left Democratic Front (LDF), claimed that large sections of the municipality had been without regular potable water since late December. Households in the affected wards reported relying on private tankers and alternative sources for basic needs, as piped water supply remained erratic or entirely absent.
A.U. Viju, secretary of the municipal parliamentary party, openly accused authorities of diverting water intended for Maradu to neighbouring Tripunithura, alleging political interference in water distribution. He warned that unless the crisis was addressed urgently, the protest movement would intensify and gain wider public support.
Residents and councillors expressed frustration that repeated complaints to the KWA had yielded little relief. Many households reported waiting hours for minimal water supply, while others went days without access to clean drinking water. The lack of a reliable supply has also disrupted daily activities, including cooking, sanitation and schooling, especially for families with children and elderly members.
The councillors called on higher authorities to intervene, increase water supply allocations, and ensure transparent distribution without political bias. They also urged the KWA to deploy repair teams and prioritize districts facing the worst shortages. As the protest concluded, councillors declared a readiness to escalate their agitation if concrete solutions were not forthcoming, reflecting growing public discontent over basic civic amenities in one of Kerala’s key urban regions.
News as reported
