Water level in the Peppara Dam is still a cause of worry for the city residents. Poor monsoon rainfall has led to a situation wherein the present water level of the dam is 99.9 metres, which could ensure supply only for 55 days.
Meanwhile, officials of the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) are pinning hopes on the approaching north-east monsoon.
Peppara Dam is the only source of potable water for large parts of the city. Last year, the dam was overflowing during the south-west monsoon season. “Only if we get good rainfall and the shutter of dam is raised can supply be ensured during the summer season. Now the level is just 99.9 metres,” said Krishnakumar, chief engineer, KWA. The capacity of Peppara Dam is 104.5 metres.
Meanwhile, the KWA move to bring water from Neyyar to Aruvikkara is yet to take off. The KWA is facing stiff opposition from the Forest Department in this regard as the pipeline has to be laid through land belonging to the latter.
Now, the only hope before the KWA is the north-west monsoon season (October-December), during which Thiruvananthapuram usually gets a fair amount of rainfall. The rainfall expected for Thiruvananthapuram district during the north-east monsoon season is higher than the state average. The normal rainfall during the north-east monsoon season in Thiruvananthapuram is 52 cm, while the state’s average is 48 cm. In view of the crisis, the KWA had proposed restrictions on the hours of water supply. However, the government rejected the proposal last month. Thiruvananthapuram is facing such a severe water crisis for the first time since 1972.
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