Poonithura residents to intensify protest over chronic water shortage as crisis deepens — Residents of Poonithura in Kochi are planning to escalate their protest over the area’s persisting drinking water shortage, expressing deep frustration after repeated appeals to authorities yielded little relief. Locals say the crisis has worsened in recent months, leaving many households struggling to secure adequate water for daily needs despite numerous complaints and representations to officials.
According to residents and local councillors, the scarcity stems from long-standing infrastructure gaps and service disparities in the southern wards of the Kochi Municipal Corporation. They say that while neighbouring areas like Maradu enjoy relatively stable supplies, Poonithura continues to face irregular delivery, forcing families to depend on tanker water and alternative sources. Despite repeated petitions to the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) and municipal officials, the situation has not improved appreciably.
A key flashpoint in the dispute was the collapse of a major water tank in Thammanam in November, which residents say compounded the supply problem and disrupted distribution lines that serve their locality. At a recent meeting chaired by the district collector G. Priyanka, KWA officials and community representatives discussed possible solutions, including extending pipelines from water-rich zones like neighbouring Maradu into undersupplied Poonithura. However, residents say promises made at the meeting to resolve the crisis within two weeks have yet to materialize.
In response, community leaders have announced plans to intensify street protests and public demonstrations, urging authorities to take immediate, tangible action rather than defer solutions. They argue that access to clean, dependable drinking water is a basic necessity, and continued neglect infringes on public welfare and dignity. With summer approaching and demand for water rising, the protest movement appears poised to gain further momentum unless concrete improvements in supply are implemented soon.
News as reported
