Shortage of drinking water in capital city; pumping takes more time, says mayor

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The drinking water issue in the capital city has not been resolved for the past four days. The authorities said pumping will start only after an hour. Minister Roshy Augustine said water supply will be fully ensured by 4 pm. However, officials including Mayor Arya Rajendran said that it will take an hour to start pumping.

Other works in the pipeline have been completed. The concerned officials informed that the installation of anchor block and big valve is in the final stage and pumping can be started within an hour. There was a great failure from the side of the concerned for four days. There is no water in 44 wards of Thiruvananthapuram. The people are suffering without drinking water. The tankers of Thiruvananthapuram Corporation are supplying a load of water to the wards for their basic needs. However, it is also alleged that the tankers have not reached many wards. The sick and the elderly are the most affected.

Partial pumping started this morning but stopped after a leak was noticed in the valve. The work of laying pipes has not been completed. Minister V Sivankutty had assured yesterday that water will reach low lying areas before noon today.

Meanwhile, Antony Raju MLA informed the chief minister that water authority, SmartCity and Road Fund Board are blaming each other and complicating the issue. The MLA demanded strict action against the officials. Antony Raju also pointed that there is criminal negligence on the part of the concerned in introducing alternative system while changing the pipelines, stopping the operation of the plants, stopping the water supply in the name of construction of the Smart City project.