Dindigul, July 28: Kodaikanal, one of Tamil Nadu‘s most popular hill stations, is facing a severe drinking water crisis. Prolonged dry weather and insufficient rainfall have led to a significant reduction in water availability throughout the town.
The escalating water shortage is troubling local residents, businesses, and the hospitality sector. Municipal water supply now reaches many households only once every seven to eight days.
This hill town, home to approximately 46,000 residents across 24 municipal wards, experiences heavy tourist traffic year-round. On average, Kodaikanal attracts around 5,000 to 6,000 tourists daily, with numbers soaring to over 20,000 during weekends and holidays.
The rising demand has placed additional pressure on already dwindling water resources. Locals report that whenever the municipality supplies water, they must store it, fearing that the next delivery might not arrive for another week. Many commercial establishments have begun purchasing private water tankers to meet their daily needs, with each tanker costing around ₹4,000, significantly increasing operational costs.
The primary reason for this crisis is attributed to the drying up of two crucial water sources: Observatory Lake and Keel Gundaru. Experts note that despite the continuous growth in Kodaikanal’s population and tourism industry over the decades, no major new reservoirs have been constructed since independence.
They also point out that very few homes and commercial buildings have facilities for underground water storage, leaving many residents struggling during prolonged shortages.
Hotels and restaurants are also affected, as they require substantial amounts of water daily. Representatives from the hospitality sector argue that this shortage is more a result of reduced rainfall than administrative failure. When natural water sources dry up, the municipality has limited options.
Municipal officials believe that Kodaikanal’s drinking water supply is almost entirely dependent on seasonal rains. The rapid decline in water levels and the drying up of Keel Gundaru have severely impacted pumping operations.
As an immediate relief measure, the municipality has dug a deep well near Fairy Falls and plans to drill four additional borewells near Gymkhana Road. Officials hope that these measures will alleviate the crisis until adequate monsoon rains replenish the town’s reservoirs.
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