Thiruvananthapuram: Boat services on Neyyar dam have been suspended due to dipping water levels in the dam. The wildlife warden approved the decision on Friday. As a result of this, large boats as well as speed boat services operated by the Tourism department and Forest Department will be halted until the monsoon revives the dam. Boat rides have become risky as tree stumps might have been exposed because of the declining water level. Also the alighting and descending of passengers from boats has become riskier as boats operate much below berthing points.
Everyday hundreds of tourists used to take boats to various destinations such as the Lion Safari Park located in various parts of the dam. Pezhumkola, Panthaplamood and Thekke Pantha stretches of the Neyyar dam have turned into grassland following the drought situation. Apart from serving the purposes of agriculture in Thiruvananthapuram, the Neyyar dam also caters to the 24 Million Litres Daily (MLD) Kallikadu water project. Also, the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) has been drawing between 25 MLD and 60 MLD water to meet the city’s drinking water requirements. The dam than has a minimum drawable limit of around 68 metres and currently it has 74 metres of water.
