The Water Resources Department has made arrangements to supply 120-lakh litres of water a day to Sabarimala during the forthcoming Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrim season, Water Resources Minister Mathew T. Thomas has said.
The Minister was addressing the Sabarimala Sukha Darshanam programme of the Pathanamthitta Press Club here on Thursday.
Mr. Thomas said the Erumeli drinking water supply scheme estimated at ₹53 crore would be commissioned soon. According to him, the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) will supply 60-lakh litres of water to Sabarimala and along the Pampa-Sannidhanam path, besides 60-lakh litres to Pampa and surrounding areas on a daily basis.
He said the KWA would install five water purification plants, each having a capacity to produce 5,000 litres of water an hour, at Pampa, Triveni, Saramkuthi, Marakoottom, and Sannidhanam.
He said two water purification plants with a capacity to produce 2,000 litres an hour would be installed near the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation bus station and at Pampa hilltop, besides five plants of 1,000 litres/hour at Neelimala-Top Pampa and surrounding areas.
The Nilackal parking area would have three more water treatment plants of 1000 litres/hour capacity each.
Mr. Thomas said that the KWA would install 120 drinking water kiosks at Pampa Manalpuram and along the Pampa-Sannidhanam path.
The Minister said that 12 special units with a facility to supply both hot and normal water would be installed on the Pampa-Sannidhanam path before November 12.
Quality analysis
Mr Thomas said the KWA had also made arrangements to conduct periodic quality analysis of the water supplied to pilgrims. The KWA would set up a quality control laboratory and a control room headed by an assistant engineer at Pampa.