Water level in the low-lying Upper Kuttanad has gone up with the flood waters receding from the upper reaches on Friday.
The district administration has opened two more relief camps in this flood-hit paddy bowl of Central Travancore in Thiruvalla taluk, raising the total camps in the region to 14.
District Collector Pranab Jyotinath, accompanied by Mathew T. Thomas, MLA; and Revenue Divisional Officer A. Gopakumar visited various relief camps and flood-affected colonies to take stock of the situation.
Mr. Jyotinath directed the District Supply Officer to take necessary steps to supply free ration to all affected families in the region.
The official team comprising the Collector and MLA also visited the settlement colonies of Kazhuppil and Mundappally at Peringara panchayat that are surrounded by water. The officials reached the colony in country boats.
Mr. Jyotinath said steps would be taken to disburse cash relief worth Rs.2,000 to all the families shifted to various relief camps in the district. The cash relief had already been given to 101 families, he said.
547 shifted to camps
The RDO said as many as 547 people had been shifted to 14 relief camps set up in the Upper Kuttanad villages of Peringara, Nedumpram, Niranom, Kadapra, and Kaviyur.
Two new camps had been opened at Central Lower Primary School and Young Men’s Club Hall at Niranom on Friday.
Pulikeezhu block panchayat president Eapen Kurien, Peringara panchayat president Sam Eapen, and Thiruvalla Tahsildar P.S. Charles accompanied the official team.
Mr. Eapen said drinking water scarcity was a major problem facing the region due to contamination of wells and various public taps of the Kerala Water Authority. He called upon the Collector to take necessary steps to supply safe drinking water to the relief camps as well as the flood-affected areas.
