Pipe burst in Palarivattom, water supply disrupted; Uma Thomas MLA stages road blockade

KOCHI: Uma Thomas MLA led a road blockade in Palarivattom to protest against the disruption of water supply following a pipe burst during the Kochi Metro construction work. The blockade, which began near St. Martin's Church in Palarivattom at 8 pm last night, lasted for hours.

During the piling work as part of the second phase of the Kochi Metro, a pipe burst near Metro Pillar 540 on Friday, which disrupted the drinking water supply in the Thammanam and Palarivattom areas for days. Although the leak was fixed and pumping resumed by Monday evening, the pipe burst again, and the water supply was disrupted. The burst was found almost 100 meters away from the point where the burst was last located on Friday. Construction work is also underway in this area. Following this, the locals, led by the MLA protested.

The MLA demanded that drinking water be supplied in tankers in the area and that officials of the Kochi Metro and Water Authority immediately intervene to resolve the problem. Appointed councillors Deepthi Mary Varghese and Molly Charlie participated.

Palarivattom police reached the spot. Meanwhile, Water Authority officials informed that a stop memo was issued to KMRL to stop the construction work. On Tuesday, officials of the Kochi Metro and Water Authority will conduct a joint inspection at the spot.