New standard for pipe works

A system to inform people in advance about the interruption of water supply for pipe maintenance is already in place to avoid inconvenience. However, in most cases, the notification reaches the public only a few days before the maintenance work begins, and it often goes unnoticed by many. Many people only discover the water outage when they wake up in the morning. The recent experience of Thiruvananthapuram city residents was particularly harrowing, as 44 wards faced a prolonged water shutdown for five consecutive days. Although it was initially notified that water supply would be disrupted for two days, due to the inefficiency of officials and contractors, the work was not completed within the stipulated time. Water distribution was restored only after three days, contrary to the initial announcement. Even then, many areas in the city continued to face water scarcity. Following the public outrage, the Water Resources Minister initiated measures to prevent such incidents in the future. The Minister has instructed senior officials of the Water Authority to develop a set of guidelines to be followed when undertaking major maintenance work that requires shutting down the water supply. Standards are already in place, but the directive is to revise and update them by incorporating new ones. It has been specifically instructed that new projects should be implemented only in accordance with the revised standards. When awarding contracts, it is essential to ensure that the contractor has the necessary experience and equipment. A contractor should be empanelled in each circle for any unexpected maintenance work. The public should be informed through media about the planned work at least seven days in advance. Repeating this information multiple times would be even better.

The recent water shortage in the capital, which lasted for five consecutive days, was attributed to the fact that officials were unaware of the location of valves in the water distribution pipelines. Ironically, the former contractors were more familiar with this information than the current authority officials. If their expertise had been sought in a timely manner, the recent water crisis might not have been as severe or prolonged. Instead of closing only the valve related to the pipe under the railway line for replacement, all the valves supplying water to various parts of the city from the distribution tank were shut off, causing water distribution to fail across the city. This mistake was only realized later, by which time the city residents had already suffered the consequences.

A feasibility study is set to begin for laying new pipelines parallel to the existing ones in the city. This is a good thing. However, the study and pipeline laying should be done in a time-bound manner. It should not disrupt the water supply to the city residents. It should be ensured that all pipe work-related activities are strictly overseen by a specifically assigned official. The supervision of this official should be ensured until the completion of the work.

The Water Resources Minister had hinted that a major project to bring and distribute water from Neyyar Dam could commence next year. This project, which could alleviate the drinking water scarcity in the city, should not be delayed further.