Erumapetty: Drinking water pipelines suffered extensive damage during ongoing road construction, leaving more than a hundred households without water. Frustrated by the authorities’ inaction in replacing the damaged pipes, residents have launched a protest. The situation has worsened with the contractor engaged with the work too refusing to take responsibility.

The burst pipes are part of the Jalanidhi drinking water project, which supplies water to over 100 families in Kottappuram–Chengodu, Ward 15 of Erumapetty panchayat. The damage occurred when soil along the roadside was carelessly removed with an earthmover during the widening of the Kottappuram–Thayyoor Road. As a result, pipes connecting the borewell to the storage tank and the tank to households have been left broken, disrupting supply for days.

Repeated appeals by residents to the panchayat, public works authorities and the contractor have gone unanswered. Locals allege that the authorities are engaged in a blame game to avoid responsibility. Officials have even suggested that beneficiaries replace the pipes at their own expense, a task estimated to cost up to ₹1.25 lakh.

When a similar incident occurred a few months ago, residents pooled ₹20,000 to replace the pipes and restore supply. This time, however, ordinary families and daily wage earners say they cannot afford the much larger sum. In response, residents staged a protest demanding that the panchayat take the lead in replacing the damaged pipes.

The protest was led by beneficiary committee president V D Thomas, secretary K S Suresh, and V J James.