An unending fight for water

Every year since 1952, towards August, there has been international focus on this little region on the banks of the Pampa River, on the Alappuzha-Kottayam water transport route.

Still, a repeated complaint voiced by the residents of the Nehru Trophy Ward, hosts to the Nehru Trophy Boat Race, has not attracted any serious attention, which is why women from about 500 families there had to take to the streets on Wednesday, armed with water pots and shouting slogans, demanding pure drinking water.

The Nehru Trophy ward and parts of the adjoining Kainakary panchayat, including areas like Thayyilkayal, Naduthuruthu Kannittakayal and the land encircling the Azhikal padasekharam, all of which fall under the

Alappuzha municipality, have been short of not just drinking water, but water for daily requirements as well, for the last 20 years. A majority of voters in this region boycotted panchayat elections 10 years back, but in vain. Repeated memoranda, petitions and requests too have brought about little change.