Water crisis looms large over Kodaikanal
Kodaikanal is facing a severe water crisis due to failed monsoons and poor infrastructure maintenance. Residents and local business owners are struggling with water shortages and rising costs, prompting calls for government intervention based on environmental carrying capacity studies.
Why it matters
It highlights the growing tension between tourism-driven economic growth and the sustainability of essential natural resources in hill stations.
Kodaikanal is staring at an acute water crisis. With rains having failed this season, water level at Manorathinam Solai Reservoir, which supplies water to Kodaikanal town, has dwindled sharply.
Though there are about 50,000 permanent residents in the town, the population number almost doubles during weekends and peak season. According to Mr. Saleem, a long-time resident of Kodaikanal and a tour operator, “nowadays the Municipality supplies water once in ten days. For our daily needs, we are forced to buy water. A water tanker which on regular days costs ₹5,000, on weekends the price jumps to even ₹7,000. This stored water lasts for about a week.”
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