The Pampa river is to get a new lease of life soon. The Rs.21.7-crore modern biological sewage treatment plant at the Sabarimala Sannidhanam will be commissioned on October 19, according to K.Jayakumar, chairman of the High Power Committee (HPC) on the Sabarimala master plan.
Talking to The Hindu, Mr. Jayakumar said finishing touches of the STP were under way so as to commission the plant as scheduled.
He said the power connection to the plant was expected by October 13 and Vasco Environmental India Private Limited that undertook the work on behalf of the Hyderabad-based Ramky Constructions Private Limited had informed the HPC that the pre-inaugural water run would be carried out to check the system by October 15.
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The HPC launched the STP project on the basis of a Kerala High Court order in May, 2013.
The court had even sought a progress report on the STP project from Special Commissioner K.Babu in September. TDB sources said work on the pipeline and sewer network was under way.
A.V. Viswanatha Menon, managing director of the company, said the project would be completed on time and the plant could be commissioned on October 19 itself. He said concreting work on the wet well too was completed on Wednesday.
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The HPC technical committee chaired by Ajit Haridas, Head of Process Engineering and Environmental Technology Division of the National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR), inspected the plant two weeks ago.
Mr. Haridas said the Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Reactor was a key component of the STP. He said bacteria generation for the plant to operate at full capacity would take three months.