Funding Gridlock Stalls Vital 3.5 Million Liter Water Reservoir for Kochi
Kochi faces a growing water storage crisis as bureaucratic delays and funding disputes halt the construction of a new reservoir at Thammanam. Legislative leaders are now demanding the redirection of ADB funds to secure the city's crumbling infrastructure.
Key takeaways
- A proposed 35-lakh-litre water tank at Thammanam remains unbuilt despite designs being submitted in November last year.
- MLA T.J. Vinod is demanding that the ₹30 crore project be funded through the existing Asian Development Bank loan.
- French firm SUEZ maintains that its operation and maintenance contract does not cover the construction of new water reservoirs.
- KWA sources indicate that land acquisition will not be a factor as the project is sited on existing government-owned property.
- The new facility is intended to replace a 1.35-crore-litre tank that partially collapsed, causing significant water shortages.
Funding Deadlock and Administrative Delays
Months after the partial collapse of a 1.35-crore-litre water reservoir at Thammanam, plans for a replacement facility remain stagnant. The proposed 35-lakh-litre tank is currently caught in a cycle of pending administrative approvals and unresolved funding questions. While the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) finalized the design and formal proposal in November last year, the project lacks the necessary sanction to move forward.
The Fight for ADB Funding Redirection
T.J. Vinod, MLA, has publicly challenged the government to prioritize storage over distribution. He argues that addressing Kochi's chronic water shortages requires more than just laying new pipelines. The legislator proposes utilizing the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-funded project to finance the estimated ₹30 crore required for the reservoir. Under his proposed strategy, the tank would receive initial funding priority, with any remaining capital allocated to secondary pipeline works.
KWA insiders suggest that savings from the existing ADB project could cover the costs. Because several aging pipelines identified in 2017 have already been replaced, the funds originally earmarked for those segments could be reallocated. Furthermore, since the KWA already owns the proposed site at Thammanam, no time or money would be lost to land acquisition hurdles.
Accountability and Contractual Limits
The role of the French firm SUEZ, currently managing operation and maintenance for KWA assets, has also come under scrutiny. Although the firm oversees the system, senior SUEZ officials clarified that their contract does not include the construction of new reservoirs. Despite persistent shortages in areas such as Pachalam, Vaduthala, Kaloor, and Karuvelippadi, the firm maintains that infrastructure expansion falls outside their current legal obligations. MLA Vinod has called for a review of accountability regarding the maintenance of these critical assets.
- Original tank capacity: 1.35 crore litres (partially collapsed)
- Proposed new tank capacity: 35 lakh litres
- Estimated project cost: Under ₹30 crore
- Primary funding candidate: Asian Development Bank (ADB) loan
Source: The Hindu — National
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