T’puram: Thousands of residents in the water-scarce northern parts of Thiruvananthapuram district are expected to get relief from chronic drinking water shortages, with the Rs 81.18-crore Pulimath-Nagaroor-Karavaram comprehensive drinking water project likely to be commissioned by third week of Aug.Funded by Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), the project will supply treated drinking water from Vamanapuram River to households in Pulimath, Attingal, Nagaroor and Karavaram grama panchayats. The scheme is expected to significantly improve water availability in the region, which faces acute shortages during the summer months.Under the project, raw water will be pumped from Vamanapuram River to a well-cum-pump house at Aanakudi before being conveyed to the main treatment plant at Kuttimoodu in Pulimath. After treatment, the water will be distributed through pumping stations at Kadalukaanippara, Nellikkunnu, Vellamkolli and Pavalla.Kerala Water Authority (KWA) officials said the project has entered its final phase, with most of the civil works already completed. The remaining work includes laying the final stretches of transmission and distribution pipelines, interconnecting the network, installing electromechanical equipment, and conducting pressure tests and trial runs.“If the remaining works are completed as scheduled, we expect to commission the scheme by Onam,” a senior KWA official said.Local MLA O S Ambika said the project would provide a permanent solution to the region’s drinking water crisis. She added that the remaining pipeline works are being completed on priority and that the scheme would soon be dedicated to public.The land required for the project was acquired during the first LDF govt’s tenure, after which construction of the treatment plant, pump houses and distribution network commenced.
