Kerala capital to get uninterrupted water supply till Sunday

The government has lifted the restrictions imposed on water supply to the Thiruvananthapuram city till Sunday.
Water Resources Minister Mathew  T Thomas reviewing the progress of pumping of water from Kappukad, Neyyar, on Friday.
Water Resources Minister Mathew T Thomas reviewing the progress of pumping of water from Kappukad, Neyyar, on Friday.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government has lifted the restrictions imposed on water supply to the Thiruvananthapuram city till Sunday.

The Kerala Water Authority (KWA) had started pumping water from Neyyar to Aruvikkara on Thursday evening. The restrictions on pumping water to the city from Aruvikkara will be back in place after Sunday, Water Resources Minister Mathew T Thomas said. The decision was taken in view of the hardships faced by city residents after the restrictions were imposed.

On Friday, he made a visit to Kappukad, Neyyar, to review the progress of pumping.

The government had cut pumping by 25 per cent after it became clear that water shortage in the Peppara dam would trigger a crisis after May 15. But despite the restrictions, many areas in capital city, especially the high line regions, still face acute water shortage.

The pumping from the Kappukad reach of Neyyar reservoir is being undertaken using a dredger of the Irrigation Department. Another dredger belonging to Travancore Cements is expected to reach Kappukad soon. In addition to this, two 100 hp centrifugal pumps of the KWA also will be pressed into service, the minister said.

Using the two dredgers and the two 100 hp pumps, water supply to the city can be made more efficient by the first week of May, Mathew T Thomas said. “Water for drinking purposes is the priority. However, the government is not ignoring the use of water for other purposes,” he said.

Meanwhile, V S Sivakumar MLA alleged the government has failed to address the water shortage faced by the capital city.

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