Locals rely on a main water pipeline for their water supple. Photo Source: Pixabay[/caption]
This week, various parts of Kottayam town were struck by an acute shortage of water. Binoop, who runs an ambulance unit at Samkranthi, loaded his ambulance with clean drinking water and drove to the wards distributing more than 20,000 litres of drinking water to its residents over two days.
Binoop was quoted by Deccan Chronicle as saying, “I had decided to supply the water since the residents were suffering due to the acute shortage of the drinking water. This is also charity work, which is beneficial to a large number of people of the region.”
In February of this year it was reported that the groundwater level in the district was declining at an alarming rate, raising concerns over impending water shortages. The state groundwater department reported that the level was 2 metres less than what it was during the same time the previous year, evidencing the need for immediate action on the issue.
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There is no municipality pipeline to the two affected wards and the residents are dependent upon the 7,000 litres of water supplied every week by the municipality, an amount that is inadequate to cater to the needs of all of the residents. Thanks to Binoop, it is claimed that 60 houses were given water over two days this week, who would otherwise have gone without. As the water shortages look set to continue throughout the summer, Binoop has no plans on slowing down and plans to continue his free drinking water ambulance service for as long as the people need it.