THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Water pipes in several parts of the capital city have gone dry in Vellayambalam, Jawahar Nagar, Sasthamangalam, Belhaen Gardens in Kaudiar and even at General Hospital over the last several days. Consumers have been complaining before the Kerala Water Authority, but to no avail.
On Wednesday, water resources minister K. Krishnan Kutty had visited Aruvikara dam to take stock of the situation before the summer season hits. He had promised the city dwellers that the Aruvikara dam has got adequate water and this time there will not be water shortage.
It looks like the KWA officials have misled the water resources minister. If earlier, water would reach the overhead tanks for a few hours in the residential areas, now it is a distant dream. Majority of the households have got water tanks installed at the ground level ever since water scarcity has occu-rred in Vellayambalam, Jawahar Nagar, Sasthama-ngalam and Belhaven Gardens. 65-year-old Joseph Sebastian, a resident of Belhaven Gardens had to move out of his 58 year old home last year to his daughter’s apartment during the peak summer season.
“One year later, the situation has only worsened. I am a tax payer and it is the KWA authorities who should ensure drinking water for my family. I have lost track on the number of times I had complained before the authorities as well as when was the last time I got water”, said an angry Joseph Sebastian, a retired banking professional to DC.
Less than a kilometre from Belhaven is the Vellayambalam Jawahar Lane, Kavuvila Lane and Jawahar Nagar, the state’s oldest residential colony where majority of the serving and retired bureaucrats, IPS officials and other top Government officials reside. Those living in apartments are unaware of the pipes going dry. Neenu Arun, a young mother having two children staying at Kavuvila Lane has not washed her family’s clothes for more than four days.
“After pestering local CPM councillor, Bindu Sreekumar, she made arrangements to provide water in a lorry. But this mechanism is not feasible in the long run. I wish water come at least three days a week so that I can store and use accordingly”, said Neenu.
Residents of Vellayam-balam Jawahar Lane, Jawahar Nagar, Kavuvila Lane have approached the local Congress MLA K. Muraleedharan. He told DC that he is aware of the water crisis and promised to take appropriate action. KWA executive engineer T. Ajitha Devi told DC that the current imbroglio is due to the Attukal Pongala season.
“There has been regulation in water supply in the capital city due to the festive season. Every month, 550 new water connections are being given in the city which shows that there is no increase in water production when the water consumption is on the rise. We are doing our level best to provide water in all areas of the capital city”, said Ajitha.
She also added that after the Attukal Pongala, things would improve in low lying areas, but not in Belhaven Gardens, which is in an elevated area. KWA official has urged before the city dwellers that they should store water whenever there is uninterrupted water supply. By March 2020, KWA will be setting up a new plant at Aruvikara which should address the water shortage in the capital city.
