The Kerala Water Authority has put the firm entrusted with the task to renovate the 36-mld and 72-mld treatment plants at Aruvikkara on a notice period for two months. The firm has been asked to complete the renovation work by end of August or face termination of work.
The water utility had convened a meeting two days ago to review the progress of renovation against the backdrop of the frequent shutdown of the 36-mld plant owing to mechanical problem. The latest incident was on Wednesday leading to three days of water disruption in the city. The private firm had been directed to complete the work by August 30, a source in the KWA told The Hindu .
Termination threat
“We have decided to terminate the services of the firm if they do not complete the work by August 30. The termination will be on risk-cost basis, which means the additional expenditure for the modernisation of the plants has to be borne by the firm,” the official said.
The KWA had allotted works to a Hyderabad-based firm to renovate the plants under the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)-assisted programme. The Rs.45-crore renovation work was allotted to the company in November 2013 and was set to be completed in 18 months. “The company has not made any progress and after the work was allotted to it, the plant was shut down several times due to mechanical problem. Both the treatment plants need overhaul,” the official said.
A mechanical problem in the 250 hp pump house of the 36-mld plant had disrupted supply to Thampanoor, Chala, Kuriathy, Kamaleswaram, Manacaud, Sreevaraham, Konchiravila, Mukkolakkal, Ambalathara, Valiathura, Muttathara, and Beemapally. on Wednesday.
The plant started functioning on Saturday after the defect in the pump sets was rectified. “The pump set has to be sent to Angamaly as there is no mechanic available here,” said a KWA engineer.
Slow progress
Water supply was
disrupted for three days because of plant shutdown
Rs.45-crore work
was entrusted to a
Hyderabad firm in 2013
