views
KOCHI: Commuters and residents along the Thammanam-Palarivattom road are a distressed lot as the water pipeline replacement work that has been going on for over two months has come to a standstill yet again.The project, funded by the Kerala Sustainable Urban Development Project (KSUDP), began over two months ago and has hit a roadblock for the second time. Officials with Kerala Water Authority (KWA) said the work had stopped since the pipeline which has to be replaced, lies close to another major pipeline. “So far, we have replaced 500 metre out of 1500 metre pipeline which is to be replaced. The 700 mm wide pipeline which is to be replaced, lies close to a major 1050 mm pipeline. The space between the two is less than three feet. Hence, there is a major technical hurdle in finishing the project as the bigger pipeline should not be harmed while laying the new one. The officials with KWA, KSUDP and Kochi Corporation will meet to decide on an appropriate solution for the issue,” said a KWA official.Another issue is that the traffic diversion introduced as part of the work puts immense pressure on the Pipeline Road. Residents had pointed out that the Pipeline Road is not equipped to handle such heavy traffic and that it might lead to the rupturing of major water pipes laid beneath it. Earlier, the work had stalled as the contractor in-charge abandoned it after his earth movers were seized by the police in connection with some other issue. The work had resumed after the Thammanam-Palarivattom Janakeeya Samrakshana Samithi carried out severe protests. However, with the present issue stalling the work again, the project which is already past its 60-day deadline will drag on even further.
Comments
0 comment