Thiruvananthapuram: Even as the Vizhinjam International Seaport continues to emerge as one of the country’s biggest infrastructure projects, residents in the surrounding coastal areas say access to drinking water remains an everyday struggle.Frequent pipeline bursts, prolonged supply disruptions and dependence on private water tankers have become part of daily life for many households in Vizhinjam and nearby localities. Residents said that whenever a major pipeline develops a leak, water supply is suspended for several days, forcing families to arrange drinking water on their own.“The bursting of pipelines is a common affair here. Every time a pipeline ruptures, the water supply is completely cut off for five to six days. We have no option but to depend on private water tankers during this period,” said local resident Praveen Kumar.The situation has worsened during the ongoing summer-like conditions, residents said, and many households have been spending extra money to buy drinking water. While the city corporation deploys water tankers during prolonged disruptions, residents alleged that the service does not adequately cover interior areas.“Corporation tankers usually reach only the houses located along the main roads. Those of us living in the interior areas find it difficult to access the supply and continue to struggle for drinking water,” said Sameera S, another resident.The recurring disruptions have persisted for years despite repeated complaints to the authorities, residents said. Many households now store water whenever supply is restored, fearing another breakdown could leave them without water for several days.Kerala Water Authority (KWA) officials acknowledged that the existing pipeline network in the area is old and needs replacement. Efforts are being made to improve the distribution network, an official said, but a permanent solution would require replacing the ageing pipelines, which officials said are among the key reasons for recurring maintenance issues and supply interruptions.“The entire pipeline network in this area is old and needs to be replaced. Until new pipelines are laid, water is being supplied by regulating the valves so that available water can be distributed to different localities in a phased manner,” a KWA official said.
