Vechoochira/ Pathanamthitta: The restoration work of the drinking water supply project remains largely on paper, with only the laying of pipes carried out for formality. Work on the water treatment plant and tanks has not yet begun.

The existing project envisages pumping water from the well constructed on Perunthenaruvi in the Pampa River to the plant at Ashramam and then supplying it through tanks at Kumbithodu, Kunnam, Plaveliniravu and Thalamuttiyaanippara, etc. During the summer, as the water level in the Pampa drops, water for pumping becomes limited. To address this, the latest plan is to pump water from the Edathikkavu well, which is part of the Erumeli drinking water project, to Vechoochira.

Currently, the project has a capacity of 2.25 million litres, which is planned to be increased to 8 million litres. It supplies water partially to Vechoochira, Pazhavangady and Naraanammuzhi panchayats. Administrative sanction has been received for a ₹62.58 crore renovation project, and contracts have been awarded for all components except the transformer and transformer room. A new plant will be built at Navodaya.

DI, GI, and PVC pipes with diameters ranging from 65 mm to 300 mm will be laid over a stretch of 113.96 km.

The project will have 13 tanks, with their locations and capacities (in lakh litres) as follows:

Navodaya OH – 5, Navodaya Sump – 2.50, Navodaya OH – 0.40, Kunnam OH – 9, Kunnam GL – 2.45, Ashramam – 7, Vaahamukku – 0.50, Niravu – 2, Kumbithodu – 2.50, Aanamaadam – 2, Achadippara – 0.40, Chembanoli – 2, Pullikkallu – 0.50

A contract worth ₹35.77 crores has been awarded for laying the supply pipelines and pumping mains.