Election commission removes restrictions on drinking water supply

KOCHI: The State Election Commission has removed the restriction placed on the supply of drinking water in the state. The commission made the submission in this regard in the high court today. The court, meanwhile, asked the government to distribute water, subject to certain conditions so as ensure that the service is not made a political tool. The court also strictly asked politicians not to interfere in the distribution of drinking water.   

Earlier, the commission had prevented the distribution of drinking water in vehicles, citing model code of conduct in the wake of Assembly election. After this, the cabinet met urgently and decided to take legal recourse, if the commission didn’t budge.  
In the model of conduct it is specified that if an area is declared as drought-hit, drinking water can be distributed. The chief minister had also said at a press conference recently that the commission was interfering in the government’s day-to-day activities.

It was NCP MLA Thomas Chandy who had moved the high court pleading that severe drought had affected Kuttanad of Alappuzha district and permission be granted to distribute drinking water. While considering Thomas Chandy’s petition, the court also directed the government to sanction Rs One crore for the project regarding the distribution of drinking water.

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