KWA move to solve drinking water scarcity

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Water Authority has drawn up a plan to address the water scarcity in areas, including Raj Bhavan, Belhaven Gardens, Jawahar Nagar, Keston Road, Devaswom Board and the lanes on the Vellayambalam-Sasthamangalam stretch.

The residents associations had planned an agitation against the severe water shortage. The KWA engineers have found a leak in front of the Ajanta bungalow, opposite Raj Bhavan. A KWA official told DC that the road has to be dug by three square metres and the chamber to the five valves has to be raised for which six square metres has to be dug.

"We had written to the KRFB during mid-July seeking their permission to dig the road to address the water scarcity in Raj Bhavan and adjoining areas. But we did not get a favourable reply so far," he said.

Dr. Davendra Kumar Dhodavat, principal secretary to the governor, also brought the issue to the notice of the managing director, KWA, on July 22. On inspection, the KWA engineers found that five valve chambers have to be raised in front of post-matric hostel for men and petrol pump at Vellayambalam, near Kaudiar autorickshaw stand, Salvation Army School and the two-square-metre tiled area in front of Vellayambalam Bishop's House.

When the leakage in front of Ajanta bungalow is rectified the water scarcity at Raj Bhavan will be back to normal. The KWA is also planning to draw an additional pipe line from the observatory hills transmission main line where the road has to be cut.

A senior official of KRFB told DC that the technical wing had inspected the areas which need road cutting.

"Due to the rain there were some hiccups. Road cutting will be done on Monday," he said.

The KWA has also sought permission to dig the road at Kumarapuram and opposite MILMA at Pattom to solve the drinking water problem there.