Over 2.7 lakh households in city lack sewer connection

Thiruvananthapuram: The city has over 2.7 lakh households without a sewer connection or coverage under the septage management.
Only 16% of households in the city have sewer connections, according to the city water balance plan (CWBP) submitted by the city corporation as part of the implementation of Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (Amrut) Phase-2.
It shows that 56 million litres per day (MLD) of sewage is treated through a sewage treatment plant (STP) in the city when the total generation is 101.48 MLD.
As per the operational guidelines published by the ministry of housing and urban affairs, CWBPs will comprise details of water sources, including waterbodies, water treatment and distribution infrastructure, area-wise water coverage and sewerage network, including STPs, etc.
The urban local bodies have to compile baseline data on household water tap and sewer/septage connections, and gaps in service delivery will be worked out. Based on assessed gaps, potential projects will be identified targeting functional outcomes. The city corporation has prepared and submitted CWBP in tune with these guidelines.
The city had grappled with the huge gap in septage management and coverage of the sewer network in 2015 as well, when the first phase of Amrut was launched.
While the corporation planned to attain sewerage connection in 80% of the city wards in six years, KWA which is entrusted with undertaking the sewerage projects under the Amrut had to deal with tender excess, technical difficulties, contractual issues and protests while undertaking sewerage schemes in the last six years under the Amrut Phase-I.
It had taken nearly two years for all major works under the Amrut to get into the implementation stage. During this time, KWA had a tough time finding experienced firms with the required expertise to get the work done. Often KWA was forced to present an excess amount for works as serious on-field issues were cited by the contractors.
In January, the corporation had decided to go ahead with four sewerage works for which excess tender was quoted. As much as 40% tender excess was approved for three sub works. The corporation also executed a work agreement on 27% tender excess for the work that involves laying transmission main and sewer networks in Karamanal collection and conveyance system. It had also agreed to bear 40% tender excess for laying the sewer network from Murinjapalam to Kannamoola.