KWA to expedite steps to set up treatment plant.

The Kerala Water Authority has expedited measures to set up a conventional treatment plant for a second water source for the city after the government gave administrative clearance to hand over one acre of revenue land at Malavila, near Maranalloor, to the water utility.

The KWA was awaiting clearance from the government to get possession of the land so as to start construction of the plant this year itself. The utility plans to select the bidder by the first week of October.

'We are planning to start construction of the plant by the end of this year. The bidder will be given two years’ time to set up the plant. The distribution network can be laid while the plant is getting ready,' said a senior KWA official.

The utility proposes to supply 120 million litres (mld) of treated water a day by drawing water from the Neyyar and the treated water will be carried to the PTP Nagar reservoir through the Malavila-Pongumoodu-Cheenivila-Malayinkeezhu- Karippur-Thachottukavu-Peyad-Valiyavila-Elippodu stretch.

Once the treated water reaches PTP Nagar, it will be fed to the existing clear water sumps on the KWA campus and from there to the overhead service reservoir for distribution.

The official said the project includes construction of streams to pump water to the treatment plant at Malavila, a weir to utilise excess water during monsoon, and laying of a transmission line with 1,300-mm mild steel pipeline for a length of 16.5 km.

The project would cost around Rs.200 crore.

The Centre had already given Rs.32 crore towards establishing the plant, the official said adding the remaining amount to complete the project would be met through external funding. The State government had set aside Rs. 10 crore in the current financial year for the project, which would be crucial for meeting the growing demand for piped water in upcoming residential areas in and around Kazhakuttam.


THE HINDU