A prolonged drinking water shortage in Poonithura has intensified ahead of summer, with residents in parts of Kochi corporation alleging administrative inaction despite repeated assurances from authorities.Households in wards 46 and 47, located at the tail-end of the pipeline network supplied from the Thammanam pump house, have reported going several days without piped water. The supply system, managed by the Kerala Water Authority, has struggled to maintain pressure levels in southern stretches of the locality.
Residents point out that water pumped from the Thammanam tank travels nearly 15 kilometres before reaching Poonithura, losing significant force along the way. According to local representatives, by the time it reaches Chambakkara, pressure drops drastically, preventing adequate distribution to interior residential lanes.The issue was discussed in a January meeting chaired by the district administration, during which officials reportedly committed to corrective measures within 15 days. However, residents say no visible improvement has followed, and a planned follow-up review meeting has not taken place.
The crisis has revived attention on a proposal made in 2024 to establish a 190 MLD water treatment plant in the region. The project, suggested by the Kerala Water Authority to strengthen supply resilience, has yet to move beyond the planning stage. Civic activists argue that without decentralised treatment and storage infrastructure, tail-end areas will continue to face seasonal shortages.Infrastructure bottlenecks have compounded the problem. A proposed pipeline intersection at Ponnurunni remains pending, with financial approval of Rs 20 lakh reportedly awaited. Meanwhile, permission from the National Highways Authority of India is still required for works near Petta junction, delaying network optimisation efforts.
Residents also cite the collapse of a portion of the Thammanam storage tank last year as a turning point that further destabilised supply. The incident, they claim, reduced operational capacity and increased dependency on limited distribution routes.With summer temperatures rising, pressure on the system is expected to intensify. Urban water experts note that rapidly expanding residential zones at the periphery of older pipeline grids often experience disproportionate shortages unless infrastructure upgrades keep pace with demand.
Local associations have already staged protests this month, warning that tanker dependence could become routine if long-pending projects remain stalled. Community representatives have urged elected officials to expedite approvals and coordinate between municipal, water utility and highway authorities.The unfolding Kochi Poonithura Water Crisis underscores broader challenges in urban water governance — from ageing infrastructure and pressure imbalances to delays in capital investment. Unless structural interventions such as the proposed treatment plant and network intersections are implemented, residents fear that seasonal scarcity may become a permanent feature of life in this fast-growing Kochi neighbourhood.
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Kochi Poonithura Faces Worsening Water Crisis
