Jisha Surya
Thiruvananthapuram: The drought relief squad of Kerala Water Authority (KWA) formed almost a month ago, has cracked as many as 1,600 cases of water theft in the city so far. The squad, which is active from 6pm to 6am, has been able to check water misuse to a considerable level.
The PH division has formed two squads to check water theft as part of KWA’s drought mitigation initiative. Several families in Karimadom Colony, Jagathy, Aakulam and Anayara were recently served warning against siphoning tap water from public tap to their houses.
On Monday, the squad found out water theft at Karimadom Colony, where a family was found to siphon water from the public tap. In Jagathy, four families were found to involve in water theft. Recently, two cases were reported from Aakulam, where one end of a hose connected to a public tap was laid to a nearby well.
“Each day, we crack around seven-eight cases of water theft. Most of them use hose to take water from public tap to their house. Several such cases have come to our notice. Some use water for construction purpose. We have warned them all. If they repeat, we will close down the public tap at the area,” said KWA executive engineer Prakash Idicula. Public taps were closed at Punchakari and Anayara following widespread misuse of water.
One of the overseers said he faced stiff opposition from families involved in the illegal act. “Some argue that they do so because they don’t have water connection. They say they didn’t get connection even after filing application,” he said. “We usually seize the hose and warn them. Now the cases of water theft have come down drastically,” he said.
Each squad consists of a plumber, helper, driver and overseer. Assistant engineers of the area review the work.
In addition to inspection, the squad also checks leakages in distribution pipes. In such a major work, leak along an old 6-inch pipe near Chackai bridge was rectified. The leak at the pipe has been causing a loss of around 3 million litres of water per day. “We have plugged the leak and replaced all nine distribution pipes at the area”, Idicula said.
Thiruvananthapuram: The drought relief squad of Kerala Water Authority (KWA) formed almost a month ago, has cracked as many as 1,600 cases of water theft in the city so far. The squad, which is active from 6pm to 6am, has been able to check water misuse to a considerable level.
The PH division has formed two squads to check water theft as part of KWA’s drought mitigation initiative. Several families in Karimadom Colony, Jagathy, Aakulam and Anayara were recently served warning against siphoning tap water from public tap to their houses.
On Monday, the squad found out water theft at Karimadom Colony, where a family was found to siphon water from the public tap. In Jagathy, four families were found to involve in water theft. Recently, two cases were reported from Aakulam, where one end of a hose connected to a public tap was laid to a nearby well.
“Each day, we crack around seven-eight cases of water theft. Most of them use hose to take water from public tap to their house. Several such cases have come to our notice. Some use water for construction purpose. We have warned them all. If they repeat, we will close down the public tap at the area,” said KWA executive engineer Prakash Idicula. Public taps were closed at Punchakari and Anayara following widespread misuse of water.
One of the overseers said he faced stiff opposition from families involved in the illegal act. “Some argue that they do so because they don’t have water connection. They say they didn’t get connection even after filing application,” he said. “We usually seize the hose and warn them. Now the cases of water theft have come down drastically,” he said.
Each squad consists of a plumber, helper, driver and overseer. Assistant engineers of the area review the work.
In addition to inspection, the squad also checks leakages in distribution pipes. In such a major work, leak along an old 6-inch pipe near Chackai bridge was rectified. The leak at the pipe has been causing a loss of around 3 million litres of water per day. “We have plugged the leak and replaced all nine distribution pipes at the area”, Idicula said.
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