Water Crisis

 Major crisis at home (the first of 2021)

KWA water supply in 2021  (Jan 12-19, 2021): 2290L

KWA meter also ran due to AIR (Jan 1-Feb 7): 2600L

Corporation tanker filled sump on 8 days between Jan 1-Feb 7, the last time on Feb 2.

Now, due to sewerage works, even that tanker can't approach the house. (Not even a fire engine! God forbid!)

 

From e-Petition to CM on Feb 7, 2019 (exactly 2 years back):

"Personally, I have given up hope. And, this will be my last letter to

you all regarding this. I guess this will also be forwarded to the MD

of KWA and discarded in some bureaucratic cesspit.

I do not know why the (Residents Association) and community leaders do little to help my

old parents. Is it because they think their job is done if the

majority are happy and a small minority are expendable?

I do not even want to think that caste and religious considerations or

base financial/real-estate interests have played a role, even

subconsciously. Even if that is not in play, the 'apartheid' or

discrimination or step-motherly treatment seems to indicate some such

despicable idea."

From mother's letter to Kerala Water Authority and Councillor on Feb 5, 2021:

"I request your assistance. I am an old lady of 76. We are observing

reverse quarantine in this Covid crisis and that is why we can't come

and see you personally... 

In January, we got water supply (for an hour or so before dawn) only

on these dates: Jan 12-19, 2021.

We have been depending on the Corporation tanker for many months for

water...

 

Since yesterday, the approach roads (on all sides) have been dug up

for KWA sewerage works.

The Corporation tanker can't come to my house. And no one knows when

it will come again...

Everyone cites the elevation as reason for the water supply problem to

our house. But, it is not just because of that. The KWA officials are

well aware of the issues in the neighbourhood and how some people here

oppose equitable distribution of water wanting more for themselves.

My son had sent an e-petition to the Chief Minister two years back (on

Feb 7, 2019)... In that, he also mentioned the

step-motherly treatment we have faced in this area for more than 10

years with regard to water supply.

At that time, I was looking after my ailing husband and without water

supply, it was very stressful (and it remains so). My husband died on

April 14, 2019. We could not even hold his last rites here in my

husband's house because there was no water supply. I am still sad

about that."

From mother's letter to Kerala Water Authority and Councillor on Feb 6, 2021:

"My house received NO water supply last night either. Instead, the

water meter has advanced by 500L because of AIR. Meanwhile, neighbours

seem to be enjoying good water supply. They are busy pumping to

overhead tanks all day long and wasting water we would have loved to

have.

The overhead tank is emptying fast and I do not know what to do other

than to beg to you all.

...there is some talk of a dedicated line...If that happens, it would be good. 

But, as in the past, people in this area would use their connections and power to divert from such

a line. For more than 10 years, they have been torturing us by

depleting our water supply. They do not want us to touch the water

they enjoy. We are untouchables of the 21st century.

Before considering the dedicated line, I request you to consider the

cheaper way of correcting errors of the past:

1. In 2019, the KWA installed a valve in front of house *** for

such emergencies. Sadly, neighbours blocked that with concrete. The

police have not yet found those culprits. If you could close that

valve completely once or twice a week for adequate time during this

phase, our sump might fill. Please do not leave the valve partially

closed (as done earlier)--that might benefit only one house and harm

everyone else including us.

2. 6 years back or so, the *** Residents Association... 

decided to deplete our supply even further by diverting water to house

*** and nearby houses. There is another line running in front of

those houses but their boring point is still from our line with

inadequate supply. Could you please shift the boring point so that

there is more water in our line?

3. 10 years back or so, when this line was put, we received normal

24-hour supply for a week. Then, the line was opened to a downhill

portion serving house *** and nearby houses. The mistake was that

no valve was put before the downhill section. They enjoy unlimited

supply at the expense of those slightly elevated compared to that

downhill area. Overnight, our supply reduced to an hour or so in the

early morning.

Will someone please listen to a desperate old lady's cry for help?"