S. Siri Jagan, J.

1. Kerala is widely known all over the world as a land of backwaters. In fact, the backwaters are important tourist attraction in Kerala. Alappuzha, one of the districts of Kerala, is also rich in that sense, since the district has backwaters in abundance. However, Alappuzha is a place which makes the old saying "water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink", true to its real sense. In spite of water in such abundance all over the district, the inhabitants of Alappuzha do not get clean drinking water, despite the water supply system in existence operated by the Kerala Water Authority. The water which comes through the taps of the Kerala Water Authority at Alappuzha is so rich in all kinds of organic and inorganic impurities that no person who values his health would dare to drink the same. But for the paucity of adequate potable drinking water, we feel that the influx of tourists to Alappuzha would have been much greater than what is presently obtaining. This situation has been continuing for several decades. In spite of the fact that from the very inception of the Kerala State in 1956, very eminent political leaders representing Alappuzha had become mi