T’puram: State govt will divert water from Neyyar Dam to Aruvikkara Dam to ensure uninterrupted drinking water supply in the capital, water resources minister Roshy Augustine said on Wednesday.Addressing the media after a state-level review meeting with officials from all districts, the minister said Aruvikkara currently has water reserves sufficient only for 26 days. As a precautionary measure, instructions have been issued to initiate steps to channel water from Neyyar to augment supply. The minister said a similar arrangement was implemented in 2016 during a water shortage. This time, the plan involves diverting water from Neyyar Dam into the river system that feeds Peppara Dam, which in turn supplies Aruvikkara. An estimate of Rs 73 lakh was prepared for the work. While there is no immediate severe drinking water crisis in the district, govt is taking advance measures in view of the summer and declining reservoir levels. Increasing the storage capacity at Peppara Dam is considered one of the easiest long-term solutions, though objections from forest department over environmental concerns need to be addressed, the minister noted. The meeting also reviewed water scarcity issues in other parts of the district. Vellayani region near Vizhinjam has been facing acute shortages. Repair works on a canal supplying water to the area have been completed, and water flow is expected to resume from Thursday. In Technopark-Kazhakootam region, pipeline work is under way but has been delayed due to pending road-cutting permissions. The minister said steps have been directed to resolve the issue, which is reportedly linked to defects liability period (DLP) conditions. Officials discussed coordinated efforts by Kerala Water Authority to mitigate the impact of the ongoing dry spell and ensure adequate drinking water supply across the state.
