Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Water Authority (KWA) has issued comprehensive directions to ensure uninterrupted drinking water supply in the state capital during the Attukal Pongala on Tuesday.In proceedings dated Saturday, joint managing director directed officials to put in place special arrangements to maintain continuous water supply across areas under Thiruvananthapuram corporation, particularly in festival zones expected to witness a massive influx of devotees. As part of the measures, the superintending engineer (SE), Thiruvananthapuram, was instructed to set up a dedicated call centre to address complaints related to water shortage or disruption. The contact details will be made public, and officials were told to ensure that grievances are attended to and resolved in a time-bound manner. Any lapse in responding to complaints or interruptions in supply must be reported directly to the joint managing director. A special team will be constituted to assist field-level officers in maintaining supply. Several officers from other districts and divisions were placed at the disposal of SE for deployment in the city from Sunday to Tuesday. They will monitor, supervise and execute urgent works in coordination with regular field staff. The SE was also empowered to hire vehicles for operational purposes and to utilise the services of ‘Blue Brigade’ (team responsible for addressing water-related issues) and local contractors, over and above existing resources, for repair and maintenance work during the festival period. Nodal officers will be appointed in each sub-division to coordinate with ward councillors and corporation officials and to escalate issues to senior engineers. Special focus was directed at Aruvikkara water treatment plant to prevent power failures or shutdowns. Adequate spare materials must be stocked to ensure uninterrupted functioning. No leave will be sanctioned to officials during this period. The SE was also directed to coordinate with police authorities to ensure the safety and security of water supply infrastructure. The chief engineer, southern region, will oversee daily operations and grievance redressal to ensure seamless water distribution throughout the festival.
