Thiruvananthapuram Faces Severe Water Crisis Ahead of Major Festival
With the highly anticipated Attukal Pongala festival approaching on March 3, Thiruvananthapuram is confronting a severe drinking water shortage that threatens to disrupt preparations for the massive religious gathering. The crisis has been triggered by a combination of early summer heat, widespread pipeline leakages, and ongoing technical problems at the Aruvikkara water treatment plant, which serves as the city's primary source of potable water.
Widespread Disruption Across City Neighborhoods
These compounding issues have led to major disruptions in regular pipeline distribution, leaving numerous areas across the city with minimal or no water supply for multiple days. Affected neighborhoods include Akkulam, Vazhuthacaud, Kazhakkoottam, and Thampanoor, where residents have been struggling with inadequate access to drinking water just days before the festival that typically draws hundreds of thousands of devotees.
Speaking to media representatives on Wednesday, Mayor V V Rajesh acknowledged that the municipal corporation's capacity to resolve the crisis independently was limited. He identified the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) as the principal agency responsible for supply and treatment operations at the Aruvikkara Dam, which feeds the city's water distribution system.
Emergency Measures Implemented
Despite jurisdictional limitations, the corporation has taken on additional responsibilities to mitigate the disruption. Municipal plumbers have been dispatched across the city's distribution network to fix leaks at the corporation's own expense. Furthermore, Rajesh announced that 60 water tankers would be mobilized before Pongala across all 101 municipal wards to supply drinking water to affected residents.
The emergency water distribution plan includes deploying 10,000-liter tankers to service larger wards like Sasthamangalam and Kowdiar, while smaller vehicles will cater to outlying areas. Water sources for these tankers have been organized at key collection points including Vellayambalam, PTP Nagar, and Iranimuttam to ensure efficient distribution.
Political Controversy Intensifies
The escalating water crisis has sparked significant political controversy, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) sharply criticizing the state government for failing to ensure consistent water access for residents. This criticism has intensified pressure on authorities just days before a major public congregation that tests the city's infrastructure capabilities.
Multi-Departmental Festival Preparations
In coordination with civic efforts to address the water shortage, multiple government departments have stepped up comprehensive preparations for the Attukal Pongala festival. Beyond emergency water supply measures, authorities are implementing enhanced health services, sanitation work, mobile toilet facilities, and special transport arrangements to handle the anticipated surge of devotees.
District Administration Reviews Readiness
District Collector Anu Kumari recently chaired a review meeting to assess preparations for the festival, with particular focus on ensuring essential civic facilities including drinking water are properly established ahead of the large gathering. The meeting addressed urgent issues related to drinking water supply, drainage systems, and road conditions in key wards including Attukal, Thampanoor, Kunnukuzhy, Manacaud, Perunthanni, and Arannoor.
Emphasizing the need for coordinated action, Kumari instructed all departments to complete pending works without delay to avoid inconvenience to both residents and pilgrims. The district administration confirmed that all festival arrangements are being closely monitored to ensure smooth conduct of the annual event despite the challenging circumstances.
