A prolonged dry spell, dwindling storage in most of the drinking water reservoirs, a steady increase in the inflow of visitors and the fast approaching summer tourist season has forced the civic administration in this vacation destination to take precautionary measures.
Though there was sufficient water in the Parsons Valley Hydel Reservoir and complaints relating to water shortage have just started to trickle in, the municipality is not taking chances. Speaking to The Hindu here recently Municipal Engineer Reuban Suresh Ponniah said that a plan of action has been drawn to see the summer through even if this hill station is let down by the pre- summer and summer showers.
In tune with this the water in the Tiger Hill and Gori Shola reservoirs has been declared as ‘emergency storage’.
Pointing out that the municipality has to cater to the requirements of the local population which was about 80,000 and a floating population of about 5000, he said that water was now being supplied at the rate 113 litres per head per day.
Three municipal lorries and one hired tanker have been pressed into service to supply water to some parts of the town like Stone House hill. The district administration has sanctioned funds from the State Disaster Response Fund to sink two open wells in the town. However, the water would not be used for drinking. Stating that if necessary more tankers would be hired, he said that since the general elections are scheduled to be held this summer, the inflow of tourists is likely to rise sharply only during the second week of May.
Pointing out that municipal water is not for commercial use, he said that if the people extend their cooperation to the municipality drinking water would not be a major problem during the coming summer.
Meanwhile, people in many parts of the town and its surroundings have started sinking bore wells.
With this activity kicking up a controversy, The Nilgiris Collector, P. Sankar, said that rules should be adhered to.
