THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Though monsoon showers have blessed city sumptuously, several panchayats in southern part of capital continue to reel under water crisis. The ground situations were alarming, so much so that water kiosks will be installed in the localities, as per a decision taken by district administration. Neyyatinkara MLA K. Anselan said that the water scarcity had already gripped Kulathoor, Chenkal, Thiruppuram and Karode panchayats. Some of the areas that fall under Athiyanoor block panchayat area has been the worst drought affected, consistently, during the past decades. Ground water department has been recording massive dip in the wells that they monitor in this area.
“We, people’s representatives, have requested the district administration to expedite long pending local water projects in places such as Kulathoor, Karode, Chenakal, Athiyanoor and Kottukal panchayat,” he said. The water projects primarily involve rejuvenating pounds and tapping them for drinking purposes. “Karode, for instance has around 50 to 58 ponds that can be rejuvenated. We plans to make a grid of ponds that can be tapped for drinking water purposes and agricultural purpose. An approval from central government was awaited,” an official said.
As per expert poor water retention capability of soil make the area prone for drought. Some other areas, like Kottukal had been experiencing a boom in housing construction, especially after the commencement of Vizhinjam port project. Interestingly, even the new Kazhakoottam-Karode bypass passes through this stretch. “Increased urban settlement could further intensify ground water extraction making matters worse,” said ground water department officials.
