The Thiruvananthapuram component of the Kerala Water Supply Project funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will be partially commissioned on May 18.
Minister for Water Resources N. K. Premachandran told the media here on Tuesday that Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan would commission the scheme, marking the inauguration of Fourth Anniversary Celebrations of LDF government.
The Minister said that the other components of the project, except the scheme for Kozhikode city, would be commissioned during the tenure of the present Government. The schemes for Meenad and neighbouring villages in Kollam district, Cherthala and neighbouring areas in Alappuzha district and Pattuvam and nearby areas in Kannur district would be commissioned during this financial year. The work on the Kozhikode scheme could be completed only by November next year.
42 lakh beneficiaries
The Japan Agency, formerly known as JBIC, was providing a loan of Rs.2,987 crore for the project benefitting 42 lakh persons in five districts. It is one of the biggest water supply projects under implementation in India.
Mr. Premachandran recalled that the project was originally proposed to be taken up in 2004 and was to be completed in two years. However, controversies over appointment of the consultant delayed the project. The works were finally taken up in 2006. The work, however, got delayed because of the complexity of the task. So, the project was extended up to 2012.
Sufficient till 2036
The Thiruvananthapuram scheme would serve Thiruvananthapuram Corporation and three neighbouring panchayats. The full commissioning of the scheme is scheduled for the end of February next year. With that, the installed capacity of the Thiruvananthapuram water supply scheme would rise to 284 million litres a day. The scheme would be enough to meet the drinking water needs of the city till 2036, with an augmentation planned for 2021 to add a capacity of 47 million litres a day.
Modern technology
He said that the scheme employed modern technology. The modern treatment plant at Aruvikkara near here has pulsator clarifier, special filters, chlorine contact tank, reservoirs, pumps and break pressure tank. The water treatment and supply could be controlled from a control room in Thiruvananthapuram using telemetry and supervisory control and data acquisition system. Water reaches new reservoirs through gravity flow. The new reservoirs at Poudikonam, Malamukal and Nelliyodu could cater to areas such as Vattiyoorkavu, Sreekaryam, Technopark, Karyavattom, Pachalloor, Poonkulam and Thiruvallam.
