Drinking water projects have found a special place in the annual Budget of the Kochi Corporation, including the new water supply project from the Periyar.
The project, which the corporation proposes to implement with the support of the Kerala Water Authority and the State government, proposes to draw water from the Periyar river and treat it at a plant in Kalamassery. However, the corporation has not made even a token allocation for the project.
The modernisation of the Aluva water treatment plant, and intake and transmission lines would be completed by June and an allocation of Rs. 8.77 crore would be made for the project, assured the local body.
The automation of the two water treatment plants would be completed this fiscal, it said.
Old supply lines were replaced with new ones in many parts of the city including the areas between Vennala and Elamakkara, and Palarivattom Junction and Samskara Junction, the corporation claimed. The funds from the Kerala State Urban Renewal Mission will be utilised for replacing old pipelines on the Sahodaran Ayyappan Road. The civic body proposed to spend Rs. 2.91 crore for the project for which it had allotted Rs. 73 lakh earlier.
The local body proposes to check the quality of the drinking water supplied through tanker lorries in the city.
Monitoring quality
Water quality monitoring measures will be intensified with the help of the Jalashree-Harithashala lab functioning from the Sacred Hearts College, Thevara. The lab will get budgetary support of Rs. 20 lakh.
Conserving water sources and rationalising the use of water form part of the water conservation measures suggested by the Kochi Corporation. Dual flush toilets would be made mandatory in city households to control the wastage of water, the Budget document said.
Anganwadies will get an allocation of Rs. 1 crore. The fund will be used to improve the infrastructure facilities of the institutions. The buildings will be repaired and children would be provided protein-rich food, the Deputy Mayor has offered.
The children of migrant labourers reaching Kochi will be provided free basic education. The Rs. 10 lakh-project will be implemented with the support of UNICEF and classes will be conducted with the cooperation of volunteers.
The Budget proposes to implement a host of development activities in the city without hiking taxes. The corporation could collect more than Rs. 2 crore from the direct collection of advertisement tax.
