'Drinking Water Has To Be Top-Most Priority': Kerala High Court Directs MD Of KWA To Resolve 2.5-Year-Long Water Shortage Issue in Thrissur

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday (June 18) orally directed the Managing Director of the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) to take urgent measures to resolve the water shortage issue in more than ten panchayats in Thrissur District in Kerala.The Division Bench, consisting of Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Basant Balaji was hearing the matter. Noting that the writ petition had been pending for more than two years, the Court orally observed:“Our main concern is why should the High Court need to spend so much time on something which is the function of the Water Authority.”The KWA was questioned about the delay in carving out a permanent solution to address the issue of drinking water in the Panchayats concerned.“…two and half years is too much. An alternate arrangement was made by the interim order in contemplation of a permanent solution. The alternate arrangement is continuing. We are spending time, Collector is spending time, the Director of Panchayats is spending time calling Panchayats for interim measures for providing drinking water twice a week by lorries…,” it was orally observed.Today, when the matter was called up for issuing directions, the Managing Director (MD) of KWA appeared before the Court through video conference in accordance with the Court's interim order. The MD was directed to call up a meeting of all officers concerned to resolve the issue. The Court also orally observed that unless a solution is made, it would be constrained to issue time-bound mandatory directions against the Water Authority. The Court orally told that it would be better if the MD takes responsibility in the matter instead of subordinate officers to find a solution and that was why he was called upon to appear before the Court.The matter is posted on next Wednesday for consideration.BackgroundThe first Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed in 2023 seeking a direction to the KWA, and the Sreenarayanpuram and Ayyanthole Panchayaths to provide potable drinking water to the petitioner and other families residing in Gothuruth Island for daily consumption. In 2023, the High Court passed an interim order for the supply of potable water to the residents of the Panchayat on every alternate day of the week, either through pipeline or through tanker lorries. Water was being supplied through the Jal Jeevan Mission to the residents.In 2024, interim orders were passed by the Court, noting that the issue raised in the matter is to be addressed on two levels: one, by setting up a permanent infrastructure for a regular water supply and two, by making immediate provision for potable water to the residents. The Court had also directed a convening of a meeting of all the stakeholders concerned, including the Panchayaths, the officials of the National Jal Jeevan Mission and the National Highway Authority, to resolve the issue.The District Collector was directed to depute a responsible officer to visit the site and ascertain whether drinking water was not being regularly provided, and thereafter, to submit a report. The two reports submitted by the Collector highlighted the issue of non-availability of drinking water in this area as a serious issue. Thereafter, the Court impleaded nine Panchayats concerned as additional respondents in the case, noting that responsibility needs to be placed on these as well.Another PIL was filed in 2025 seeking a long-term solution to the drinking water crisis.Case Title: K.A. Dharmarajan & Anr. v. State of Kerala and Ors. & P.L. Xavier v. State of KeralaCase No: W.P.(C) No. 36773 of 2023 & W.P. (PIL) No. 2 of 2025 Click to Read/Download Order

'Drinking Water Has To Be Top-Most Priority': Kerala High Court Directs MD Of KWA To Resolve 2.5-Year-Long Water Shortage Issue in Thrissur

K. Salma Jennath

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