Jisha Surya
June 6, 2013
Thiruvananthapuram: The capital city, where pipe bursts and digging up of roads are the order of the day, has a rich history of a foolproof water distribution system. The neglected old Pipeline Road connecting Aruvikkara to Vellayambalam, under which passes the city’s first transmission line, is proof for this. However, the beleaguered Kerala Water Authority (KWA) does nothing to protect or maintain it.
The tunnel laid across the Kowdiar-Vellayambalam road is an engineering marvel, which marked a watershed in the water distribution system of the capital. Now, the plot where the inspection well and opening of tunnel is located –– near Golf Links road –– has turned a dumping yard.
The plot, once encroached upon by a private party, was acquired by the KWA after a legal battle. The authorities feel erecting a board claiming their ownership of the property is enough. There is no protection or periodic maintenance of the inspection well and tunnel which carries 33-mm diameter ductile iron pipe commissioned in 1933. More than 36 million litres of water is being pumped through this pipe daily.
Records available with the KWA also show that there existed periodic inspection of the pipeline road from the entire Aruvikkara to Vellayambalam stretch in the past. Now, most of the Pipeline Road is being encroached upon and the KWA has totally neglected the area.
According to local residents, garbage, including waste from slaughter houses, is dumped on the plot. The inspection well and the tunnel is out of view as the plot is overgrown with bushes due to poor maintenance. Lack of protection of a sensitive subject such as transmission pipe is a serious matter to introspect. “The plot must be turned into a children’s park. It has a rich history. Children will be interested in the history as well as the engineering marvel of the tunnel,” said a resident.
Kowdiar ward councilor S Sathikumari said that the plot was in a neglected state. “If the plot is maintained as a park, it would be beneficial. The KWA must take action on it,” she said.
KWA superintending engineer K Sasi said the department will take steps to clean the plot. “We are planning to protect the entire Pipeline Road. Currently, it is stuck in some cases. We will take steps to clean the plot where the inspection well and tunnel are located,” Sasi said.
Made in 10 days
The tunnel was constructed across the Kowdiar-Vellayambalam road in 1931 to ensure the safety of the pipe laid under the road and to avoid digging of road for maintenance, which may sound crazy now. More surprising is the fact that the tunnel was constructed in just 10 days. According to the duty records of the then executive engineer, the work of the tunnel was midway when they got a call from the Kowdiar Palace on October 4, 1931. The palace wanted the road to be cleared for royal chariot to pass on October 15. Around 200 workers toiled day and night and completed the work on October 14. The royal chariot carrying Sri Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma passed through the road to Durbar Hall on October 15. The tunnel carries 33 mm diameter ductile iron pipes made in England.
June 6, 2013
Thiruvananthapuram: The capital city, where pipe bursts and digging up of roads are the order of the day, has a rich history of a foolproof water distribution system. The neglected old Pipeline Road connecting Aruvikkara to Vellayambalam, under which passes the city’s first transmission line, is proof for this. However, the beleaguered Kerala Water Authority (KWA) does nothing to protect or maintain it.
The tunnel laid across the Kowdiar-Vellayambalam road is an engineering marvel, which marked a watershed in the water distribution system of the capital. Now, the plot where the inspection well and opening of tunnel is located –– near Golf Links road –– has turned a dumping yard.
The plot, once encroached upon by a private party, was acquired by the KWA after a legal battle. The authorities feel erecting a board claiming their ownership of the property is enough. There is no protection or periodic maintenance of the inspection well and tunnel which carries 33-mm diameter ductile iron pipe commissioned in 1933. More than 36 million litres of water is being pumped through this pipe daily.
Records available with the KWA also show that there existed periodic inspection of the pipeline road from the entire Aruvikkara to Vellayambalam stretch in the past. Now, most of the Pipeline Road is being encroached upon and the KWA has totally neglected the area.
According to local residents, garbage, including waste from slaughter houses, is dumped on the plot. The inspection well and the tunnel is out of view as the plot is overgrown with bushes due to poor maintenance. Lack of protection of a sensitive subject such as transmission pipe is a serious matter to introspect. “The plot must be turned into a children’s park. It has a rich history. Children will be interested in the history as well as the engineering marvel of the tunnel,” said a resident.
Kowdiar ward councilor S Sathikumari said that the plot was in a neglected state. “If the plot is maintained as a park, it would be beneficial. The KWA must take action on it,” she said.
KWA superintending engineer K Sasi said the department will take steps to clean the plot. “We are planning to protect the entire Pipeline Road. Currently, it is stuck in some cases. We will take steps to clean the plot where the inspection well and tunnel are located,” Sasi said.
Made in 10 days
The tunnel was constructed across the Kowdiar-Vellayambalam road in 1931 to ensure the safety of the pipe laid under the road and to avoid digging of road for maintenance, which may sound crazy now. More surprising is the fact that the tunnel was constructed in just 10 days. According to the duty records of the then executive engineer, the work of the tunnel was midway when they got a call from the Kowdiar Palace on October 4, 1931. The palace wanted the road to be cleared for royal chariot to pass on October 15. Around 200 workers toiled day and night and completed the work on October 14. The royal chariot carrying Sri Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma passed through the road to Durbar Hall on October 15. The tunnel carries 33 mm diameter ductile iron pipes made in England.
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