TDB settles ₹8.3 crore water dues to resolve dispute with KWA

The long-standing dispute between the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) and the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) over water dues has been resolved and the board has released ₹8.30 crore towards water charges incurred largely to facilitate the Sabarimala pilgrimage.

According to KWA officials, TDB had accumulated debt of ₹ 15.98 crore for water supplied along Sabarimala, Nilackal, Pampa and Sannidhanam route. The board paid ₹8.30 crore on January 16, 2026, after calculating the entire outstanding dues till October 2025.

“With this payment, TDB has paid a total of ₹27.58 crore to KWA between July 2024 and December 2025. Earlier, KWA had granted concession of ₹2.68 crore by waiving the penalty amount. All disputes regarding debts between the two parties have now been resolved,” said a KWA official.

Meanwhile, the board’s drinking water bill from the last Hajj season to January 1 totaled ₹2.63 crore. The Supreme Court directed that this amount be paid within two weeks. The court also directed the government to extend the bulk water tariff, which currently only applies to local bodies, to cover this case.

Apart from the board, some other government institutions in Pathanamthitta district also owe a significant amount to KWA. These include Pathanamthitta General Hospital, which owes ₹ 4.90 crore, Konni Medical College, which owes ₹ 33 lakh, five Mini Civil Stations, which owe ₹ 1.83 crore, and the District Superintendent of Police office, which owes ₹ 2.64 lakh.

KWA had earlier disconnected water connection of Mini Construction Station at Aranmula, which was later restored after intervention of the District Collector. But the debts are not paid. Multiple notices have already been issued to these agencies, officials said, citing KWA’s own financial constraints.