KWA revives water bottling unit project.

After several failed attempts to establish a water bottling unit at Aruvikkara, the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) has initiated the process yet again. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) made certain adverse remarks on the water utility’s failure to take the project to its logical conclusion.

A senior KWA official told The Hindu that the water utility had not dropped the plan, conceived in 2008 as a revenue-earning scheme, to establish the plant near its water treatment plant at Aruvikkara. 'In fact, we initiated the tender process three months ago. The technical bid will be opened on August 16,' the official said.

The government had sanctioned Rs.10 crore to set up the unit with a capacity to produce 7,500 litres per hour. A revised detailed project report (DPR) was prepared by the Kerala Industrial and Technical Consultancy Organisation.

The plan, the official said, was to bring out drinking water in 500-ml and 1- , 2- , and 15-litre jars using reverse osmosis technology and ozone sterilisation. The water would initially be sold to government offices and undertakings, canteens, guest houses, and the Secretariat.

'In the second stage, we could consider making available the product in the open market, which could shore up the revenue resources of the water utility,' another official said.

The CAG, in its report, was critical of the KWA's inability to take forward the project at a time when the utility was trying to augment its resources. The work was tendered four times, three of which were rejected due to 'lack of experience of the bidder' and the 'quoting of exorbitant rates.' But, a Gujarat-based company had qualified and the work was allotted to them. The company had carried out certain preliminary works at Aruvikkara but left halfway though as it found hard to go ahead with the concept, an official said.


THE HINDU