KWA prepares 2k cr sewage master plan

Kochi: Sewerage vertical wing of Kerala water authority (KWA) in the district is preparing a sewage master plan worth Rs 2,000 crore for Kochi corporation area, excluding 30 divisions in West Kochi. KWA officials have submitted a preliminary report in this regard to higher authorities a month ago.
As per the report, two sewage treatment plants (STPs) with a capacity of 50 mld and 55 mld will be set up at the north end and south end of the corporation area to cater to divisions from 31 to 74. Pipeline networks comprising numerous collection wells, lifting stations and pumping stations will have to be laid across the length and breadth of the highly congested city limits.
District officials wrote to senior KWA officials to call a joint meeting with KMRL and corporation. "We have written to the head office recently to discuss the master plan with various stakeholders. Since KMRL is already working on STPs as part of its IURWTS project, we would like to integrate it with the Kochi master plan instead of going alone. KWA can set up collection points and pumping stations on the land being acquired by KMRL for setting up STPs. We need to reach a consensus over the master plan for city," said a KWA official.
Of the total project cost, a substantial amount will be required for laying pipeline networks, transporting sewage waste from sources to collection points and from there to STPs. In places where it is impossible to lay pipelines, sewage waste will be collected in tankers and transported to plants via road.
"Since it is difficult to get such a huge amount immediately, the master plan can be implemented in a staggered manner," said the official.
The master plan is being prepared in view of the population density, which will continue to grow in the coming years. "As per the plan, the STP in the south area can be set up on KWA land at Elamkulam. As per the preliminary report, we need 20 to 25 collection wells in the city. The existing STPs in the corporation area are highly inadequate to cater to the demand. We need to identify land for setting up an STP with a capacity of 45 mld in West Kochi," said another KWA official.