Water scarcity grips Pathanamthitta

Wells and streams in hilly areas have started drying up

A view of the Achencoil from Kaipattoor, near Pathanamthitta, on Thursday.

The hilly tracts, the plains and low-lying Upper Kuttanad belt in the Central Travancore district of Pathanamthitta are in the grip of acute drinking water scarcity.

The summer had an early onset in January. Wells and natural streams in the hilly areas of Konni, Ranni, Mallappally and Adoor started drying up early January itself. Water level in the rivers Pampa, Achencoil and Manimala as well as their tributaries has gone down drastically in the scorching sun, drying up a majority of wells situated right on the riverbanks themselves.

Many people told

The Hindu that their attempts to deepen the wells proved a futile exercise as it badly affected the water quality.

The Achencoil which has been catering to the drinking water needs of the Pathanamthitta and Pandalam municipalities and six grama panchayats has turned almost dry in the summer heat.

The drastically lowered water level has converted the Achencoil river into two patches of stagnant waters lying on both sides of the check-dam constructed in the river at Kaipattoor. Given the intensity of heat, this too is likely to dry up in the coming days.

KWA schemes

Functioning of many drinking water supply schemes in the Pampa, Manimala and Achencoil has been affected with the depletion of water level in these rivers.

The Kerala Water Authority has been left in a tight spot with the lowering of water level in rivers affecting the pumping process at many places.

Water is a precious commodity at Prakkanam, Niravel, Mathoor, Muttukudukka, Thottupuram, Vettolimala, Nallanikkunnu, Ambalakkadavu, Mundukottackal, and Karimbanakkuzhy. Chittar, Seethathode, Aruvappulam, Konni, Thannithode, Kalanjoor, Elakkulam, Nalloor, Karimanthode, Manneera, Kizhakkupuram, Koodal, Pramadom, Kaviyur, Kottangal, etc, are among the other worst-affected areas in the district and not to speak of the plight of the Upper Kuttanad households in Thiruvalla taluk.

Many farmlands in the Pampa river basin have become water-scarce.

The river system itself has degenerated into canal-like streams and stagnant pools along many stretches. A good number of rivulets emptying out into the Pampa, Manimala and Achencoil have become dry.

Tribal areas too hit

The tribal areas of Attathode, Moozhiyar, Chalakkayam, Adichippuzha, Gurunathanmannu, and Laha are also in the grip of acute drinking water scarcity.