SHRC directs KWA to fix drinking water shortage in Cheranalloor
SHRC orders KWA inspection and repairs within five weeks to address drinking water shortage in Cheranalloor panchayat wards.
The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has intervened in the drinking water crisis affecting parts of Cheranalloor grama panchayat in Kochi, directing the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) to take immediate corrective action.
Chairperson Alexander Thomas ordered the KWA Executive Engineer to depute an assistant executive engineer for a site inspection to determine why water supply has failed in the region. The panchayat president and ward members must be informed of the inspection schedule.
Based on the findings, the Executive Engineer has been instructed to resolve the issues and submit a compliance report to the Commission within five weeks. The assistant executive engineer and the panchayat secretary are also required to present their report at the Commission's next sitting on October 23 at the PWD Rest House in Pathadippalam.
The SHRC took up the matter suo motu following a newspaper report. Residents of wards 7 and 8 in the Chittoor area have reportedly not received KWA-supplied drinking water for two weeks.
Ernakulam MLA T.J. Vinod, who had earlier raised the issue with Water Resources Minister Mons Joseph, said the area has been facing an acute water crisis. He noted that the Minister assured him the matter would be addressed at the earliest.