Pothencode: Summer has taken a beating on the 45 families living between Sangama Nagar and Kurinjimugal at Vembayam who are running helter-skelter for water. Owing to geographical reasons, the families are not able to get the benefit of the pipeline of the Kerala Water Authority that passes through the area. The area is situated in a high-altitude location, making it impossible to pump water. Most of the families have therefore not taken the water connection of KWA.
The people depend on water which seeps from Chappath Hill, half a kilometre away, collect them in large cans or direct them to households using a hose. The water, however, is susceptible to health issues as it passes through mossy grounds and overgrown vines. No one has so far taken the water for chemical examination.
Two of the households have borewell of which one has dried up. Several projects were chalked out to bring water to Kurinjimugal but to no avail. However, Nedumangad municipal vice-chairperson Lekhavikaraman, who is also the ward member of the region, has informed that tanker lorries will be arranged to anyone who is in need of potable water.
“The easiest way to address the crisis is to arrange water from the pipeline that passes through Pungummoodu, provided if we get the consent from the private property owners. It is the shortest possible route. A memorandum has been submitted to C Divakaran MLA in this regard,” Lekhavikraman said. Moreover, plans are afoot to build a well in the 2 cents of the land of the municipality which is lying vacant. But the project is getting delayed for want of funds, the municipal vice-chairperson said.
