KWA's water taps continue to drain crores from local bodies in Kerala

Alappuzha: The local bodies in Kerala are grappling with significant financial burdens due to the Kerala Water Authority's (KWA) failure to disconnect unused public taps, despite repeated requests. The issue has led to unnecessary water consumption and increased costs for local bodies, who are left to manage the financial strain. 

With the introduction of the Jal Jeevan Mission project, individual household connections have increased, leading to a sharp decline in the usage of public taps. However, local bodies are still required to pay the KWA based on the number of taps, whether they are used or not.

There are 1,62,105 public taps across the state, none of which have meters installed. Payments are calculated on an estimated usage of five liters per minute for eight hours in rural areas and 12 hours in urban and corporation areas. Based on this calculation, KWA charges an average of ₹14,000 annually per tap.

In 2018, the Krishnapuram Grama Panchayat in Kayamkulam, Alappuzha, requested the closure of 328 public taps. In 2023, KWA demanded ₹5,15,000 for their maintenance. Despite the panchayat settling the payment, the taps were closed only two months later. Post-closure, the authority issued a notice asking for an additional ₹59 lakh, leading the panchayat to decide on filing a case, said Panchayat President Radhamani Rajan.

Similarly, in Alappuzha Municipality, the AMRUT project has reduced the need for public taps. However, the taps remain functional, resulting in a loss of crores, said Chairperson K.K. Jayamma. This is the situation in most local bodies across the state.

Staff shortages and absence of representatives add to the crisis

There is a shortage of staff in many places due to the focus on implementing the Jal Jeevan Mission and other projects. Additionally, the non-arrival of public representatives for point inspections also hinder the closing of public taps. Billings will be checked even after closing to avoid discrepancies. 

- Sajeev Rathnakaran, Chief Engineer (Projects & Operations), Water Authority.