Rebuilding Nanjundapuram STP to cost more than original estimate

Corporation had earlier estimated the treatment plant’s cost at ₹33.79 crore

The Nanjundapuram sewage treatment plant site in Coimbatore will soon see construction works but at a higher cost.

The Coimbatore Corporation is likely to spend more on rebuilding the sewage treatment plant in Nanjundapuram than what it had earmarked for the purpose.

Sources in the civic body said that though the contractor assessing what existed at the plant site today was yet to give them a final estimate, the indications were that it could be close to ₹50 crore. The Corporation had originally estimated the treatment plant to cost ₹33.79 crore.

After it prepared the original estimate in 2010 as part of the underground drainage project under the Central Government-funded Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, the Corporation was forced to stop the work midway due to litigations.

At the time of stopping the work, the contractor, Hindustan Dorr-Oliver Limited, had invested close to ₹17 crore.

When the litigations ended with the Southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal giving Corporation the go ahead with a few changes, the Corporation resumed work more than a month ago by asking the contractor to assess the status of the machinery erected and infrastructure developed - to see how much could be reused.

After studying the STP site in Nanjundapuram for more than 20 days, the contractor had indicated that it could cost ₹50 crore. The cost included the changes the Corporation would have to make to comply with the NGT’s order - rising the height of the compound wall, installing high-power generator to ensure uninterrupted power supply, shifting of two tanks used to recycle sewage and continuous transmission of readings from monitoring air quality at the site.

Sources in the Corporation said that once the contractor completed the task and submitted a final report, the civic body would take up with the State Government the project for funds. Meanwhile, it would also seek clarity if it could go ahead with the same contractor or float fresh tenders.

The project is significant for the Corporation as it would mark the completion of the underground drainage project and help residents of nearly 20 wards connect their sewage outlets with the UGD network.