KWA plant modernisation project moving at slow pace

May 04, 2015 12:00 am | Updated 07:36 am IST - THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:

A crucial project of the Kerala Water Authority to improve the quality of drinking water by overhauling the 72 million litres per day treatment plant at Aruvikkara is moving at a slow pace even after repeated directions to the Andhra-based firm to complete the work at the earliest.

The KWA had taken up modernisation of the 72 mld plant, which is one of the oldest treatment plants in the city, with assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency a year ago.

The modernisation work, estimated to cost Rs. 36 crore, included replacement of filtering equipment, valves that regulate the flow of water inside the plant and pump sets.

Except for the procurement of equipment to be replaced and new ones to be established, nothing has moved so far despite several reminders to the firm.

The modernisation of the 72 mld treatment plant assumes significance after testing of water samples collected from the plant found presence of iron and magnesium more than permissible limits.

“Many of the machines at this plant are decades old and it should have been replaced years ago. Even regular maintenance work was not done as it is costly and time-consuming. The situation is such that it cannot be repeatedly shutdown for works as it will disrupt water supply and hence the delay in overhauling the machinery,” said a KWA engineer.

Executive Engineer, KWA, Aruvikkara division, Suresh Chandran said several reminders were sent to the company for early completion of the work.

“Now, we are pursuing the matter seriously with the company. We wanted the firm to wind up works within six months,” he said.

The modernisation of the plant, which would also see setting up of a laboratory inside the plant, would certainly address quality concerns, particularly with respect to turbidity and presence of iron, magnesium, nitrate and other particles, said another KWA official.

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