The partial collapse of the Kerala Water Authority’s two-compartment reservoir in Thammanam on November 10 last year has already aggravated water scarcity in the city and severely affected areas at the end | Photo credit: H.VIBHU
The delay in approval of the proposed new tank in Thammanam could further worsen the city’s water crisis. The partial collapse of a twin-chamber tank at Thammanam on 10 November 2025 had already worsened the situation, severely affecting the tail areas. The Kerala Water Authority (KWA) had earlier submitted a proposal for a new 35-lakh-litre tank at Thammanam to deal with the shortage, but sources said the proposal is still awaiting administrative sanction.
Albert Ambalathingal, Councilor Division 22, Pachalam, said water scarcity was more pronounced in Pachalam-Vaduthala areas. In his ward alone, about 200 families were struggling, some days without water supply. The affected localities include Anglo Indian School Road, areas near Kattunkal Temple, Pachalam Bridge, Janatha Colony, Pottakuzhi Road and SRM Road.
“We are trying to arrange water tankers but they are not available every day. The shortage we experienced earlier has worsened after the partial collapse of the Thammanam reservoir. No amount of talks have yielded results and we are planning protests as a next step,” said Mr. Ambalathingal.
Jismy Jerald, Councilor Division 23, Vaduthala West, said that despite meetings and assurances, several areas in her ward are facing acute water shortages. “For now, we are relying on tankers, but this is not a permanent solution. In some areas that were facing shortages earlier, the situation worsened after the tank collapsed. We were assured of relief after the Kaloor tank became operational. It has been four days since the tank became operational, but it has not helped,” Ms Jerald said. The affected areas in the division include Janakeeya Road, Kotheri Road and Rajiv Gandhi Lane among others.
According to sources in the KWA, the shortage caused by the partial collapse of the Thammanam tank is worsening during the summer. “Based on the recommendations of the expert committee that studied the reservoir, it was decided not to proceed with the restoration of the collapsed part. Instead, the establishment of a new reservoir was considered the ideal solution. We are still waiting for sanctions and the delay can only worsen the situation,” said a KWA source.
Most likely, the construction of the new reservoir will take almost a year, including the tendering process and other procedures. “The proposal was submitted in November and we have already lost several months,” the source added.
Meanwhile, the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has directed the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) to submit a report on the measures planned to address the water shortage in the summer months. SHRC Chairman Justice Alexander Thomas urged the KWA to take precautionary measures in view of the likelihood of Kochi facing a water crisis in the summer. The Commission registered a suo motu case on the basis of a newspaper report and also directed the Chief Engineer of KWA to review the action taken by the utility officials and submit a report within a month.
Published – 01 Feb 2026 20:41 IST
