A section of employees in Kerala Water Authority (KWA) has alleged that some in the bureaucracy are lobbying against the packaged drinking water project by KWA. There were reports that KWA had decided to hand over its bottled water plant at Aruvikkara in Thiruvananthapuram, to the Kerala Irrigation Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (KIIDC), a public sector enterprise. The plant, which has the capacity to produce 1.81 lakh bottles of water a day, was built on a cost of about Rs 12 crore.
There were plans for packaged drinking water by KWA from 2006. It was in 2010 that the VS Achuthanandan ministry approved bottled water projects of KWA. The proposed projects were in Aruvikkara, Aluva and Kozhikode.
In 2013, the government approved the Aruvikkara project but it got delayed for various reasons. The works were started in 2015. The plant was complete and a trial run was done in February 2019.
"The plant uses RO technology with UV and Ozone sterilisation to produce quality packaged drinking water. The product will be available in sizes of 200ml pouch, 200ml, 500ml, 1L and 2L bottle and 20 litre refillable can," the KWA website states. KWA had even decided the brand name of the packaged water as 'Thelineer'.
However, a board meeting held on September 5 reportedly decided to hand over the plant to KIIDC. As reported by The Hindu, the reason was stated as, "Since the plant has to be run efficiently in the form of a company."
All Kerala Water Authority Employees Union, backed by AITUC working president MM George, alleged that there is an 'IAS lobby' against KWA bottled water project.
"Though three plants were proposed, the other two were dropped. Now after completing all the works in Aruvikkara, they are going to leave it. There is a conspiracy to stop KWA entering the bottled water business. A few IAS officers are behind it. They are in support of private players in the industry," he alleged.
He said the plant was intended to generate income for KWA which is in loss presently. “During water distribution, KWA has a loss of about Rs 14 per 1000 litres. The bottled water can balance the income. Moreover, public can get pure water at a much cheaper rate," he said.
He added that by leaving the Aruvikkara plant, KWA cannot ever enter the bottled water business. "KIIDC markets the 'Hilly Aqua' brand of packaged water. Theirs is a much smaller company. Obviously Thelineer will have no future," MM George said.
However, Water Resources Minister K. Krishnankutty has told media that the ministry hasn't decided about the plant yet.