Consumer court orders to restore water connection

Kochi: Ernakulam district consumer disputes redressal commission quashed Tripunithuta Kerala water authority's (KWA's) decision to cut off drinking water connection to the house of a pregnant woman. The emergency order was issued on a complaint filed by Kattezhath Madom Murali Krishna Menon of Kumbalam.
The pending bill was Rs 22,242, and there was time till Sept 12 to pay it with a fine.Regardless of this fact, water supply was disconnected last week. The consumer court issued a notice to KWA to provide an explanation after restoring the connection immediately.
Drinking water is a necessity and the act of cancelling it unjustly is not admissible, the commission said. It directed KWA assistant executive engineer, Tripunithura, to immediately restore the connection.
The order was given by the bench headed by D B Binu, and comprising V Ramachandran and TN Srividya without hearing the arguments of KWA, considering it as an emergency. The case will be heard again on Thursday. Reason for the unfair action will have to be explained at that time.