Thiruvananthapuram, currently under the administration of the CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) with a CPM MLA and a CPM Mayor, is grappling with a critical water shortage. The city’s taps have been dry for four consecutive days, forcing many households to depend on stored water. The crisis has intensified, highlighting the severity of the situation.
The Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation is facing mounting pressure as BJP councilors, the main opposition, have taken to the streets in protest. They marched to the Secretariat and blocked roads in response to the water shortage. Despite ongoing repair and restoration efforts, misalignment in the water pipes has delayed the restoration of the water supply, and the anticipated resumption of services by September 8 evening did not materialise. Pumping operations resumed late at night, but the acute water shortage led to the closure of educational institutions, including professional colleges, on September 9.
With 45 out of 100 Corporation divisions being the hardest hit. V.K. Prashanth, the local MLA and predecessor to Mayor Rajendran, has accused the Kerala Water Authority of failing to address the issue effectively. Despite assurances from CPM Mayor Arya Rajendran and Water Resources Minister Roshi Augustine that the crisis would be resolved quickly, these promises have proven to be ineffective.
The crisis originated from issues with pipeline realignment. By the time the Kerala Water Authority issued a warning about the water stoppage, the flow had already ceased in many areas. The lack of preparation by both the government and the Corporation Council meant that no adequate arrangements were made for tanker lorries to deliver water to affected residents. Promised water deliveries by tanker lorries failed in several locations, exacerbating the situation.
Media reports have revealed troubling practices by the Kerala Water Authority. An audio recording from an official indicated that consumers must pay to access water, requiring them to fill out an application form and pay a fee to utilise the tanker lorry service. This information was provided to residents who contacted the Water Authority’s Control Room.
In Thuruthummoola Division, residents reported that their calls to Mayor Arya Rajendran went unanswered. After multiple attempts, a response was eventually received, stating that information would be provided later. Division Councilors have criticised the Mayor for failing to return calls or arrange for tanker lorries, further compounding the water crisis for affected residents.
Residents of Thiruvananthapuram have raised concerns that while ordinary households face severe water shortages, prominent flat complexes and popular shops receive tanker water without issue. There are allegations that the Council lacks tanker lorries for common people but offers water delivery if payments are made. Some claim this reflects a strategy of “creating disaster and then taxing people for the solution.”
As the crisis extends into its sixth day, reports indicate that the water supply has not yet been fully restored. This situation has cast a shadow over the governance under the LDF rule, even as Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his ministerial colleagues, and LDF leaders continue to tout Kerala’s achievements under their administration.
