Alappuzha: The ambitious water supply scheme known as the Japan Drinking Water Project in Alappuzha district is once again under scrutiny, as repeated pipeline failures and delays in repair work continue to leave thousands of residents with unreliable access to potable water. What was once promoted as a modern, large-scale solution remains plagued by breakdowns and maintenance shortcomings and communities are bearing the brunt.
In recent months, major pipe bursts along critical arteries including the Thaikkattussery–Thuravoor route have forced shutdowns in water supply, compelling authorities to launch emergency repair efforts. These interruptions have caused significant distress across panchayats such as Cherthala, Aroor, and others that lie in the coastal belt. For many, the project’s failure to guarantee even basic continuity of supply has turned hope into frustration.
Originally designed to deliver treated drinking water across Alappuzha municipality and neighbouring panchayats including Purakkad, Punnapra, Mararikulam, and Thuravoor among others the project was slated to reach a wide population under a large-scale infrastructure plan. In practice, however, the promised transformation remains elusive: only a fraction of anticipated household connections have been established over years, and many water kiosks built under the plan have fallen into disuse.
The impact on daily life is severe. As regular supply remains erratic, residents attempt to cope using alternative means: borewells, private water tankers, or occasional tanker deliveries organized by local bodies methods that are often expensive, unreliable, or inadequate. Public health and sanitation have also come under strain, particularly in densely populated coastal belts and low-lying areas where scarcity, contamination risks, and compromised hygiene are constant threats.
Administrations and the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) have repeatedly engaged in reactive maintenance patchwork repairs after bursts, temporary closures, and gradual restoration of supply. But critics argue that this is not enough. They demand structural overhaul: upgrade of pipe quality, consistent maintenance regimes, timely replacement of aging infrastructure, and completion of pending components before another crisis hits.
For coastal and rural communities in Alappuzha, the recurring breakdowns have transformed what was once seen as a lifeline into a source of anxiety. Many say their faith in the project has weakened. Unless urgent reforms are implemented ranging from infrastructure reinforcement to transparent oversight and efficient execution the dream of safe, dependable drinking water may remain just that: a dream.