Kerala Water Authority Mobilizes for Uninterrupted Festival Water Supply
The Kerala Water Authority (KWA) has issued detailed and comprehensive directives to guarantee an uninterrupted supply of drinking water across Thiruvananthapuram, the state capital, during the upcoming Attukal Pongala festival on Tuesday. In official proceedings dated Saturday, the joint managing director has mandated special arrangements to maintain continuous water availability, particularly in festival zones anticipating a massive influx of devotees.
Dedicated Call Centre and Complaint Redressal System
As a core component of the festival preparedness plan, the superintending engineer (SE) for Thiruvananthapuram has been instructed to establish a dedicated call centre specifically to address public complaints related to water shortages or service disruptions. The contact details for this centre will be made publicly available. Officials have been directed to ensure all grievances are attended to and resolved within a strict, time-bound framework. Any failure to respond to complaints or any interruption in the water supply must be reported directly to the joint managing director without delay.
Special Teams and Enhanced Manpower Deployment
A special task force will be constituted to assist field-level officers in maintaining seamless water distribution. To bolster operational capacity, several officers from other districts and divisions have been placed at the disposal of the SE for deployment within the city from Sunday through Tuesday. These officers will be responsible for monitoring, supervising, and executing urgent repair and maintenance works in close coordination with the regular field staff.
The SE has been granted additional authority to hire vehicles for operational needs and to utilize the services of the 'Blue Brigade'—the specialized team responsible for addressing water-related issues—as well as local contractors. This is to supplement existing resources specifically for repair and maintenance work during the critical festival period. Furthermore, nodal officers will be appointed in each sub-division to coordinate with ward councillors and corporation officials and to escalate any unresolved issues to senior engineers promptly.
Infrastructure Security and Operational Oversight
Special attention has been directed towards the Aruvikkara water treatment plant to prevent any potential power failures or unscheduled shutdowns. Adequate stocks of spare materials must be maintained to ensure the plant's uninterrupted functioning. No leave will be sanctioned for officials during this crucial period to maintain full staffing levels.
The SE has also been directed to coordinate with local police authorities to ensure the safety and security of all water supply infrastructure, including pipelines and treatment facilities. Overseeing the entire operation, the chief engineer for the southern region will monitor daily activities and grievance redressal mechanisms to ensure seamless water distribution throughout the duration of the Attukal Pongala festival.
