An end may be in sight to the drinking water scarcity issues in the city, with the city Corporation’s project to build one more water treatment plant at Aruvikkara about to take off.
The plant is going to be under the Central government’s Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), with the Central government bearing 50% of the costs and the State government and the local body bearing the rest.
A three acre plot has been identified for the setting up of the plant of 75 mld (Million Litres per Day) capacity. Currently, the drinking water needs of the city are being met from two drinking water treatment plants in Aruvikkara, one of 84-mld capacity and another of 74-mld capacity.
Work awarded
Tenders for the implementation of the project were called a few months ago.
The project was awarded to Ernakulam-based Chicago Constructions.
The chosen area has already been cleared of trees.
A power line has to be shifted.
On Friday, a team from the Corporation, led by Mayor V.K. Prashant visited the spot to assess the preparedness.
He said that the construction work would begin soon. He was accompanied by various Standing Committee chairpersons, Kerala Water Authority engineers and other Corporation officials.
Areas affected
The city had in recent months experienced water scarcity in quite a few of its wards, with the situation being acute in Kowdiar, Sasthamangalam, Vazhuthacaud, Thycaud, Nanthencode and Palayam.
Some of the issues here were due to the power outages in the water treatment plant at Aruvikkara and the leakages in the pipeline at different locations.
“When the new treatment plant becomes a reality, much of the existing issues in supply will be addressed. Disruptions will be minimised,” said a Corporation official.