Chellanam, a coastal panchayat near Kochi, is in the grip of a severe drinking water crisis, with thousands of households left dependent on tanker supply due to salinity in the piped water. Residents, civic leaders, and public officials have traced the root cause to decades-old pipelines that are unable to withstand the twin pressures of aging infrastructure and illegal water tapping.
According to local council members, approximately 12,000 families across the panchayat are grappling with compromised water supply. Civic representatives highlight that pipelines laid over 50 years ago are rife with leaks, allowing saline water to infiltrate the distribution network. As a result, even brief interruptions in supply or unscheduled pumping spur saline incursion, leaving residents with water unfit for drinking.
Panchayat leaders stress that piecemeal repairs are no longer viable. They argue that only a full pipeline replacement can end this cycle of crisis, and they have begun drafting estimates for such an overhaul. A senior panchayat official noted that the crisis is worst at the tail ends of the network, where supply pressure drops and residents must run taps longer to flush out salinity.
While residents have staged protests demanding action, state water officials attribute part of the problem to illegal motor pump usage. When these pumps operate without water supply, pollutants seep in through leaks, exacerbating contamination. Nevertheless, municipal authorities have acknowledged the issue and are ramping up pipeline repairs, while encouraging the panchayat to formalise cost estimates for a complete overhaul.
This crisis highlights a broader challenge for coastal urban areas: aging infrastructure is increasingly vulnerable to climate change and illegal exploitation. As more urban centres face water stress, the case of Chellanam underscores the need for forward-looking investment in resilient, inclusive water systems. Without a proactive overhaul, what began as a localized crisis could deepen, widening gaps in equitable access to safe water.
Chellanam Faces Severe Drinking Water Crisis
