Perumbavoor: Even after spending lakhs of rupees over 15 years, the Valiyakulam drinking water project, established by the Ernakulam District Panchayat at a cost of several lakhs of rupees in Vengola remains a non-starter, leaving residents in the parched region without a single drop of water from it.

Originally launched in 1987 as a lift irrigation project under the Western Ghats Development Programme, the initiative was later converted into a drinking water project using funds from the Scheduled Tribe Welfare Department during the 2009–10 fiscal year. Construction began that year at a cost of over ₹10 lakh, followed by an additional ₹3.5 lakh the next year.

Despite spending more than half a crore rupees over these years, authorities have failed to ensure the supply of drinking water from the project. The storage tank built for this purpose now lies in ruins, overrun by weeds and vegetation. Pipes for water distribution were installed on three different occasions, and the pond was cleaned twice, each time spending lakhs of rupees to remove silt and vegetation.

Despite all these efforts and repeated spending, the project never became operational. As a result, the drinking water project, set up in an area that faces acute water scarcity even during the rainy season, has been reduced to nothing more than a symbol of neglect.

An audit report of the district panchayat for 2010–11 noted that the project failed to become functional even after spending ₹30 lakh. The BJP’s Vengola Booth No. 20 Committee has now filed a complaint with the Chief Minister, demanding a Vigilance probe into the alleged irregularities behind the project.