COMBINED WATER SUPPLY SCHEME IN THE TSUNAMI AFFECTED COASTAL PANCHAYATS OF CHAVARA AND PANMANA IN KOLLAM DISTRICT

Funding Agency: World Bank through Kerala Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency

The Tsunami waves which battered the coastal regions of Kerala on 26th December 2004 had a devastating effect on most of the coastal Panchayats resulting in severe shortage of drinking water. The wells and ponds which the people dependent for their water supply needs were inundated resulting in extensive salinity intrusion. As a permanent solution to these, comprehensive piped water supply from a reliable surface source was conceived by Kerala Water Authority (KWA). The World Bank aided Jalanidhi Project proposed to provide an amount equivalent to 10 Million US Dollars towards the implementation of Rural Water Supply Scheme (RWSS) in Tsunami affected areas. One of the schemes proposed by the KWA is the Combined Water Supply Scheme (CWSS) to the coastal panchayats of Chavara and Panmana in Kollam District. The project will be implemented jointly by KWA and Kerala Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (KRWSA).

CED was appointed as the Supporting Organization for implementing the distribution system of the project. The works include community mobilization, assisting SLC and WLCs in reviewing the distribution system design prepared by KWA and revamping as deemed appropriate to enable full supply network, reaching each and every household, assisting SLC in preparing bid documents, contracting out, quality control, procurement and construction activities, financial management, preparing implementation action plan including helping in tariff fixing and office management support to SLC, enabling liaison among KWA, GP, WLC, SLC and KRWSA, concurrent monitoring of in-GP distribution construction activities and progress reporting, assisting in providing capacity support and building the capacity of GP and SLCs.