K Krishnankutty promises taps won't go dry in summer

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Unlike previous years, taps will not go dry in the state capital this summer with the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) guaranteeing uninterrupted water supply till June.

Water resource minister K. Krishnankutty said that there is enough water in the reservoir at Aruvikkara to meet the demands of the city this summer.
The long-awaited water bottling unit at Aruvikkara will start its operations by March end, the minister said.

It is learnt that the bottling unit is awaiting the mandatory certification from FSSAI and Bureau of Indian Standards. According to officials, they will get the certification in one month.

After visiting and reviewing the progress of the various projects at Aruvikkara and Neyyar dam, the minister said the government has taken adequate steps to ensure non-stop water supply to the district throughout summer.

He said that even if there is water scarcity, arrangements are in place to bring water from Neyyar to ensure availability of water.

Following the visit, the minister has directed the irrigation department to carry out a comprehensive survey to check out the feasibility of constructing a tunnel from Kappukadu area of Neyyar dam to bring water to Aruvikkara to ensure round the year water supply to the Thiruvananthapuram district.  Around 270 million litres of water is being pumped from Aruvikkara to the state capital per day.

The minister said that efforts will be taken to make water available in the city outskirts too. He said that water will be supplied in tankers to water scarce areas in the district. “100 MLD water treatment plant at Neyyar and 75 MLD plant at Aruvikkara will be commissioned soon,” he added.