THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the mercury soaring, high-lying areas of the district have already started feeling the pinch as far as drinking water supply is concerned.
Problems in the Kerala Water Authority’s (KWA) distribution mechanism, the tanker lobby and the reduced storage capability of the Aruvikkara reservoir - the main source of water for the capital city - complicate the issue further. Residents’ associations say they have taken up the issue repeatedly with the authorities but little has been done.
‘Like in the past the high-lying areas have already started to face water scarcity. Little has been done to rectify this issue. We have taken up the issue with the district administration,’’ Adv Paraniyam Devakumar, patron, Federation of Residents Associations Thiruvananthapuram (FRAT), an apex body of nearly 130 residents’ organisations, said.
The capital city region alone requires 250 million litres a day (MLD). Recently, agitations were taken out under the banner of an action council demanding the government to restore the storage capacity of the Aruvikkara dam reservoir. ‘’Following the agitation, the government had sanctioned Rs 15 lakh. Now, garbage and water weeds have been removed. But more funds will be required for retaining the storage capacity of the dam,’’ Rajeev, convener of the Aruvikkara Jalasambharani Samrakshana Samara Samithi, said.
There is also a complaint that the authorities have done little to rein in the ‘tanker lobby’. Many areas mostly in the coast and the high-lying eastern parts of the district, are totally dependent on water tankers, run by private operators, during the summer months. But little is being done to ensure the quality of the water that is supplied, allege residents’ associations.
The Water Resources Department has given administrative sanction for replacing/laying of pipelines under 17 schemes in the rural areas of the district. The 17 schemes, including four under an urban water supply scheme for the Nedumangad municipality, are among 25 approved in the southern region for replacement of existing pipelines or laying new ones. The schemes will help improve water supply in Nedumangad, Kuttichal, Aruvikkara, Vamanapuram, Uzhamalakkal, Vilappil and Anad.
In Troubled Waters
High-lying areas hit by water scarcity
Residents’ associations take up issue with district administration
Associations demand monitoring of tanker water supply
Water Resources Department clears 17 small-scale water supply schemes for rural areas
Many areas in the coast and the high-lying eastern parts of the district, are dependent on water tankers, run by private operators, during the summer months. But little is being done to ensure that quality water is supplied