KOCHI: At a time when the city and its suburbs are facing acute shortage of drinking water , city corporation’s ‘Kochi Water’ project has almost been stopped due to the lackadaisical attitude of the authorities.Of the three plants envisaged, the one at Edappally stopped operations almost two years ago due to problems in managing the unit. Another one at Ravipuram has not started operations even three years into its installation, while the only plant operational at Fort Kochi Veli generates minimal output.The corporation had earmarked Rs 52 lakh for starting two more plants – one at Chambakkara and other at Kaloor south division – during 2016-17 fiscal. But the fund got lapsed as authorities failed to start its work.The project was a joint venture of the corporation and Kerala state women’s development corporation (KSWDC). The plan was to give employment to women in the city and to provide quality drinking water to people at Rs 20 for a 20-litre bottle.Bottling plants were constructed with an investment of Rs 26 lakh each. Groups of 10 women each from Kudumbashree units were formed to run the plants.“It was due to problems in the 10-member Kudumbashree group that the plant at Ravipuram couldn’t be opened so far. Moreover, the all-women group found distribution of the bottled water a difficult task. In many cases, the 20-litre bottles will have to be lifted to the upstairs of buildings. They found it difficult,” said councillor from Ravipuram division David Parambithara.“Now, we have made certain changes in the agreement with KSWDC by cutting the number of women in the group from 10 to five. Now, the plan is to entrust the distribution to another agency. We expect that the project could be opened within a month,” he said.The plant at Edappally had to be closed due to dispute among members of Kudumbashree. The plant, which was closed almost two years ago, couldn’t be reopened till date.“Though the operations of the plant at Fort Kochi Veli had been affected for a couple of months due to technical glitches, we have sorted out the issue and the operation has been resumed,” said councillor from Fort Kochi Veli Sheeba Lal.“We are distributing 300 bottles of 20 litre each daily,” she said.According to officials with the private firm that installed the plants, each plant has a capacity to generate 6,000 litres of water per hour. So, if a plant works for six hours per day, 36,000 litres of water or 1,800 bottles can be generated every day. Still, the maximum generation is up to 300 bottles a day.“It is the lackadaisical attitude of the corporation that led to the stalemate. Even the local body itself purchases 20-litre bottles of water at Rs 70 each. Meanwhile, the local body-run plant sells it at Rs 20. This has earned the wrath of drinking water supply lobby,” said corporation LDF parliamentary party secretary V P Chandran.Mayor Soumini Jain said that the corporation would take measures to start the operations of the plants soon.

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