Partially collapsed water tank sparks safety concerns

With the monsoon expected to strengthen, concerns are growing over the possibility of further structural deterioration of the partially collapsed water reservoir at Thammanam; because no strengthening work was done on the damaged compartment.

“Leaving the collapsed tank as is is dangerous. It requires close inspection and careful intervention. The collapsed and damaged parts need to be removed and the soil stabilized. This is necessary to ensure structural integrity and turn the structure into a single solid monolithic unit,” said a KWA source.

The collapse of Chamber 1 of the double-chamber 1.35 crore liter tank at Thammanam on November 10 last year had disrupted water supply in several parts of Kochi.

Seven months after the incident, there has been no progress on KWA’s proposals to repair the structural damage caused by the tank or to build a new tank.

One of the proposals was to build a new 35 lakh liter tank on KWA-owned land at Thammanam. The other envisaged the redesign of Room 1 and its continued use after the necessary structural changes were made, provided that the second room remained operational. Although a redesign proposal was submitted, the expert committee that examined the tank opposed repairing the collapsed section and recommended building a new tank instead. However, the proposed ground-level tank is still awaiting administrative sanction.

“Ignoring the issue could lead to further deterioration in the future, which could damage the rest of the structure, including the currently functional Chamber 2 of the reservoir,” the source said. Even if the chamber is not used as a reservoir, the structure must be strengthened and damaged parts removed to ensure structural stability. “There is another old tank in the same place. We need to strengthen these tanks to prevent further deterioration and damage,” the source said.

The source added that the five or six old tanks still operating in the city may experience structural difficulties in the near future and need to be strengthened. “We need to focus on climate resilience. Salty winds and soil salinity due to the state’s proximity to the sea erode these structures, causing structural damage. This needs to be addressed to prevent any disaster,” the source added.