M. Vizin, MLA, who staged an overnight satyagraha, forced the authorities to restore drinking water supply to the Kannur Government Medical College Hospital (MCH).
The water supply to the hospital was shut off after a leak was detected in the main water pipeline. Incidentally, a private company had changed the pipeline for the work of widening the National Highway. On Saturday, the company had assured the medical college authorities that the water supply would be stopped only for five hours.
Accordingly, the pipeline was diverted up to Pilathara, and water was pumped from Mathamangalam-Chandapura pump house to MCH. However, seepage of high pressure water through the old pipeline from Pilathara to MCH resulted in leakage and disruption of water supply.
This caused a lot of trouble to patients and passers-by. Besides this, the hospital authorities had to postpone some surgeries and dialysis.
Mr Vizin, who visited the hospital after learning about the development, was assured by the company that the issue would be resolved by 9 pm on Monday. However, he later learned that not much progress had been made in restoring the water supply, and decided to hold a satyagraha until the issue was resolved.
After this the officials of MCH swung into action. The protest was called off at 3 am on Tuesday after the water supply was fully restored.