Kollam braces for water shortage as supply falls

Kollam: The drinking water sources in the district are drying up as the summer heat rises causing sunburns and other hazards. The district administration has opened a control room to coordinate water supply in drought-hit areas. Efforts are being made to tackle the situation with people’s participation.

Water is being distributed in 24 grama panchayats, mostly in the corporation suburbs. Water kiosks have been set up in 10 panchayats. The quality of water will be ensured through lab checking and Rs 550 will be charged for testing water sample.

Homes are being given water literacy to conserve water during daily chores like cleaning and maintaining personal hygiene. The use of mugs is promoted instead of draining water from taps to avoid wastage. The Kollam corporation will also give more water connections to the backward families in the city under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme. Some 10,000 households will get new water connections in the first phase and 22,500 families in the second phase.

The project to be implemented by the Kerala Water Authority has a budget of less than Rs 15 crore which will be shared by the central and state governments and the Kollam corporation on a 5:3:2 ratio.

The Rs 313.35-crore ‘Njankadavu’ drinking water project will cater to these households in Kollam city. The project will source water from Kallada river and serve as an alternative to the water from Sasthamkotta lake easing the burden on the lake.