Ensure continuous supply of drinking water to West Kochi residents: High court

Kochi: High court has directed the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) to ensure continuous supply of drinking water to the residents of West Kochi, Chellanam panchayat, Kumbalangi panchayat and 30 wards of Kochi corporation.A bench of Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice V M Syam Kumar issued the interim order on a petition filed by Thampi Subramaniyan, a former councillor of the Kochi corporation. Subramaniyan approached HC alleging that residents of West Kochi, Chellanam, Kumbalangi, and 30 wards of Kochi corporation are facing an acute scarcity of drinking water. He also provided details in the petition and referred to various representations made to the appropriate authorities, which have yielded no results so far.During hearing, HC directed KWA officials to file an affidavit within two weeks, disclosing the steps taken to ensure the supply of drinking water. The court also directed the authorities to take immediate steps to provide adequate drinking water in the western region of Kochi. The petition was adjourned to Feb 19.