Thiruvananthapuram: Museum and Zoo Minister K. Raju and Water Resources Minister Mathew T. Thomas held talks to find a solution on the shortage of drinking water supply to the Thiruvananthapuram Museum and Zoo. Kerala Water Authority had denied drinking water supply to the scores of inmates at the Thiruvananthapuram Zoo since the last three days.
Zoo officials had been using the water from the 3.5 acre pond for cleaning of several dozen enclosures and also to fill the water area in the Hippopotamus enclosure. But still the zoo keepers have been relying on water kept at dozens of storage tanks as unofficial statistics reveal that on an average day the zoo requires almost a lakh litre of water. Usually the museum and zoo premises receive water supply during night which the zoo keepers use it the next day. But since the last three days, water supply was disrupted. A top museum and zoo official told DC that the two ministers held talks to end the imbroglio the scores of "voiceless" birds and animals, visitors and staff have been experiencing.
"We were receiving water from the KWA earlier. But now the KWA officials feel that there is leakage somewhere on the line which is being examined. The two ministers have promised that the issue will be resolved in a day or two", said a top museum and zoo official to DC.
Now, KWA has provided two loads of 5000 litres of water to meet the requirements since the last three days
Last year, there were recommendations to construct an overhead tank to meet the daily demands inside the 55 acre museum and zoo campus. But there is a defunct overhead water tank behind the veterinary hospital which can be repaired and used. During 2017 summer when the city dwellers experienced acute water shortage the functioning at the museum and zoo was not affected. Thanks to the several storage tanks kept at various locations inside the zoo. At the same time, there is also a waste water recycling plant to meet the daily demands at the zoo.
