Sabarimala to face drinking water crisis

PATHANAMTHITTA: Even as the Travancore Devaswom Board and other government agencies are trying to pull through an uninterrupted drinking water supply during the pilgrimage to Sabarimala, there is a strong possibility of a serious water problem during the Mandalam-Makaravilakku season that starts on November 16. The issue arose after the government banned PET bottles of water based on a High Court order. Experts said a blanket ban without another alternative provision is most likely to invite acute water scarcity. TDB president Prayar Gopalakrishnan said the board has taken steps to purify 50,000 litres of water an hour and will open 150 kiosks at Sabarimala. Also, the Suchitwa Mission and Kerala Water Authority are planning to set up reverse osmosis plants to supply water through kiosks.