 |
|
The prolonged water shortage in the Kerala capital, Thiruvananthapuram, has triggered widespread public anger and sparked political protests. For five consecutive days, large swathes of the city remained without piped water, causing significant disruption to daily life. The Kerala Water Authority (KWA), responsible for the city's water supply, faced intense scrutiny and criticism for its handling of the crisis. While the KWA claimed to have resumed pumping on September 8th, the restoration of normal water supply was expected to take an additional day, leaving many residents without access to clean water.
The water crisis sparked protests from various political factions, including the Kerala Students Union (KSU) and the United Democratic Front (UDF). KSU activists, in a daring move, staged a protest inside the Corporation office, highlighting the impact of the water shortage on students' education and well-being. The KSU argued that the prolonged and ill-planned repair works by the KWA had forced the district administration to shut down schools and colleges, disrupting the academic routine of thousands of students. The UDF councillors, echoing similar concerns, joined the protest in front of the Corporation office and demanded the resignation of Mayor Arya Rajendran, holding her responsible for the crisis.
The Opposition leader, V.D. Satheesan, lambasted the government, the Corporation, and the KWA for their failure to address the needs of the people of Thiruvananthapuram. He accused them of negligence and incompetence, highlighting the severe impact of the water shortage on the city's residents. The KWA's decision to shut down the entire city's piped water supply, affecting an estimated 5 lakh people across 33 municipal wards, was widely criticized. The lack of sufficient notice, inadequate planning for alternative water sources, and the entrustment of inexperienced officials with crucial tasks were cited as major contributors to the crisis.
Even within the ruling CPI(M), the water crisis caused a rift, with party legislator V.K. Prasanth demanding an inquiry into the KWA's actions. He criticized the KWA's decision to shut down the entire city's water supply, arguing that the repair work could have been carried out in a phased manner, minimizing the disruption. He also pointed to the inadequate notice given to the public and the lack of technical expertise among the officials responsible for the repair work as key factors exacerbating the crisis. The public anger and political pressure on the Kerala government have put the KWA under immense pressure to quickly resolve the water crisis and ensure that such incidents are avoided in the future.
Source: Shutdown of piped water in Kerala capital triggers political protests and public resentment