Govt steps up efforts to tackle capital’s water shortage

Times News NetworkThe state govt has decided to implement urgent measures to address the drinking water shortage in Thiruvananthapuram city and tackle a range of monsoon-related challenges, following a high-level meeting at the secretariat.The meeting, jointly convened by water resources minister Mons Joseph, health minister K Muraleedharan and transport minister C P John, was attended by senior departmental officials, mayor V V Rajesh and district collector Anu Kumari. Ministers directed officials to take immediate steps to ensure drinking water availability in shortage-hit areas and asked KWA to prepare long-term solutions for the capital’s water supply needs.On water management, the govt will work to reduce transmission losses by plugging leakages in the distribution network. During scarcity periods, the city corporation and the water authority will jointly coordinate supply to affected areas, with timely updates communicated through elected representatives and the media.The govt will also explore launching a special water conservation initiative in areas such as Kazhakkoottam in collaboration with IT companies, promote rainwater harvesting with IT sector support, and hold discussions on maximising the existing capacity of Peppara Dam.To prevent waterlogging, urgent directions will be issued to the national highways authority. Since drains, canals and flood channels fall under multiple departments, officials have been tasked with ensuring coordinated, time-bound cleaning. Inspections of the Parvathy Puthanar canal will be conducted twice a week, and a special action plan will be drawn up for the Amayizhanjan Canal.The meeting also reviewed coastal erosion in the Pozhiyoor and Beemapally regions. Authorities will assess the extent of damage and initiate protective measures, including the placement of geobags along vulnerable stretches.To check the spread of monsoon diseases, preventive guidelines and awareness messages will be disseminated through school assemblies. The police and city corporation will step up joint inspections to curb illegal waste dumping, and officials were instructed to make full use of CCTV surveillance to identify and act against offenders. .