Water rationing in Thiruvananthapuram from today

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Water Authority has declared that there will be rationing in water supply to the capital city from Tuesday due to low water levels in Peppara dam. There will be a 25 per cent reduction in the water that will be pumped. Scarcity will be experienced at the high altitude areas of the city. Less  water will be released to Aruvikkara reservoir from the mother dam at Peppara, said water Resource Minister Mathew T. Thomas.

He appealed to the citizens to reduce the consumption. Kerala Water Authority MD A. Shyna Mol said that efforts will be made to manage the situation by adjusting valves, providing water tankers and installing kiosks. “All the commercial connection holders who consume over two lakh litres of water have been directed to cut their consumption by 50 per cent. Action  will be taken against water theft. None should use KWA water to wash their vehicles,” the MD said in a statement. Special arrangements will be made to deliver water at Medical College Hospital.

“The water available at Peppara can last only till mid- May. There is unusual vaporisation of water this summer. The crisis situation could have been managed if the summer rains had lashed the dam area instead of other areas in the district,” said Mr Mathew T. Thomas. The situation in the capital is graver than the drought at Palakkad, Malappuram and Kasargod, he added. The minister will visit  Neyyar dam area with senior officials to study the possibility of bringing water from that dam to Aruvikkara reservoir to control further damage. A meeting of district collector, water resources secretary and police officials will be held to prepare plans to manage the situation. The water authority control rooms can be reached at phone numbers 0471 2322674, 85476 38181, 1800 425 5313.