Kerala Water Authority (KWA) is expected to invite tender for the project soon.
WD News: Considering the growing demand for potable water in Kochi and neighboring local bodies, the state government has decided to include the proposed 190 million litres per day (MLD) water treatment plant at Aluva in the Rs 2,500-crore project funded by Asian Development Bank (ADB) for drinking water projects in Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram.
Though Kochi and neighbouring areas are facing an acute shortage of potable water, the project had been in limbo for a decade.
“We will be taking further measures once the government issues official communication in this regard,” a top official with KWA said.
“The total cost of the 190 MLD water treatment plant is pegged at Rs 495 crore. Of this, Rs 190 crore is for maintenance of the plant and electricity charges running the plant for 10 years,” the official said.
The government issued an administrative sanction for the Rs 150 crore project for constructing a 143 MLD water treatment plant at Aluva in September 2021. Though the tender was floated for the same, it was later canceled for revising the project to increase its capacity to 190 MLD. The plan was to implement the project with the funding of Rebuild Kerala. But the Rebuild Kerala declined funds due to fund shortage.
Later, the government explored the possibilities of implementing the project using Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board funds. But that too didn’t work.
The KWA has identified around four acres at Aluva town for setting up the 190 MLD plant. It will require a raw water pipeline of less than 500m in length to take water from river Periyar to the proposed plant. Moreover, the land is owned by KWA and there is no need for acquisition and other formalities.
Earlier, the irrigation department had conducted a survey stating that there won’t be adequate water in Periyar for 190 MLD water treatment plants and another 43 MLD plants designed for Kinfra.
Following a high-level meeting, the irrigation department was again asked to conduct a fresh survey. It is learned that the irrigation department has given a report stating that there will be adequate water for setting up both projects by drawing water from Periyar.
Source: Times of India
Image courtesy: Pixabay
https://tinyurl.com/ywbfxuvt
