THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, March 11, 2013
Updated: March 11, 2013 15:12 IST
The Hindu: Drinking water
and sewage water in close proximity at Karimadom Colony. Photo: Kaavya Pradeep
Kumar
Fathima Beevi sits outside her home at Karimadom Colony and
watches the rice she’s cooking come to a slow boil. As she absently ladles the
contents of the frothing pot, she jerks her head in the direction of the stream
of drainage water snaking through the patchwork of decrepit homes that make up
most of the colony near the Attakulangara bypass.
“What do you do? How many times can you get a Minister or any
authority to come here and make promises? So we cook, eat, and wash beside open
drains because there is no choice,” says the grandmother of four, and resident
of a single-room house that accommodates two families.
She is not the only one. The seven new flats designed by the
Centre for Science and Technology for Rural Development (COSTFORD), as part of
the Centre-funded Basic Services for the Urban Poor (BSUP) scheme being
implemented by the city Corporation, accommodate 140 families. Close to 400 are
waiting their turn.
Constant fear
Living in perennial fear of rain and outbreak of diseases is
taking its toll on the inhabitants. All they seek is respite from poor drainage
facilities.
“Forget the monsoon season, an hour of heavy rainfall is enough
for these homes to be flooded,” said N. Suresh, a resident.
While some houses are slightly above the drain’s level, others
are just inches above the ground and a slight ripple in the drain will send the
contaminated water indoors.
“There are sufficient water taps and since this area is
low-lying, we rarely face water shortage. We are more concerned about whether
our drinking water will get contaminated,” said Mr. Suresh, pointing at the
taps situated close to the sewage stream.
21 blocks more
The civic body is focussing more on the completion of the
remaining 21 blocks, but no immediate flood mitigation project is in the
pipeline.
A senior official told The Hindu that once the hubbub
surrounding the recently presented Corporation budget dies down, a Cluster
Development Committee meeting would be held to pave way for COSTFORD to finish
the work it began in 2008.
Their approach includes creating a proper sewerage network.
Disputes surrounding the beneficiary list have posed delays but specific
reference has been made in the budget about commencing the next phase of
construction at the Karimadom Colony.
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