Kerala
Partial commissioning of water scheme today
Staff Reporter
DFID-aided scheme expected to provide relief to residents of West Kochi
* Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan to inaugurate tank
* Constructed at a cost of Rs.2.2 crores
KOCHI: Water Resources Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan will conduct the partial commissioning of the DFID-assisted Water Supply Augmentation Scheme for West Kochi on Wednesday.
The Minister will inaugurate the new water tank constructed at the Modi Bathroom Junction in Fort Kochi, marking the completion of Zone I of the DFID-assisted Augmentation Scheme.
Industries Minister V.K. Ebrahim Kunju will preside. Fisheries and Sports Minister Dominic Presentation; Mayor Mercy Williams; Sebastian Paul, MP; and District Collector A.P.M. Mohammed Hanish will make the keynote address. Kerala Water Authority (KWA) Managing Director T.P. Mohanlal; C. Suresh Babu, Technical Member, KWA; Susan Jacob, Chief Engineer and councillors will attend the function. The tank with capacity of 2.2 MLD (million litres per day) is expected to provide relief to residents of water-starved West Kochi. It was constructed at a cost of Rs.2.2 crores.
However, work on the remaining three zones in the DFID-assisted scheme is yet to be completed. While the pipes for the distribution network under zone III have started arriving, prospects of completing work on zone II and IV are still uncertain, with a Vigilance case pending on the issue.
As the completion of the scheme may be delayed indefinitely, the KWA has decided to partially commission the scheme. Even this partial commissioning was expected to be held in mid-December last year.
The augmentation scheme, supported by the U.K. Government's Department for International Development (DFID), is one of the many components of the British Government's Urban Poverty Alleviation Scheme for poor countries.
The total estimate is Rs. 17 crores, which the KWA has already received from the Corporation. But, the entire project cost is expected to go up to Rs.35 crores, according to KWA officials.
Additional amount
The KWA officials also expect to get an additional amount of Rs.1.5 crores after settling the difference in the exchange value of the foreign currency.
However, there are apprehensions on whether the partial commissioning of the scheme would bring relief to West Kochi, which is reeling under acute water scarcity round the year.
Experts say that the augmentation project can bring in results only if the ad hoc Augmentation Scheme (earlier known as HUDCO scheme), brings in an increased supply of water from the Aluva Headworks.
The ad hoc scheme has also been dragging on for years. Though it has also been partially commissioned, the full completion of the scheme still appears months away. According to official estimates, the scheme is expected to increase the supply to West Kochi by 5 MLD. The present demand for water in West Kochi is 29 MLD, out of which 14 MLD is now being supplied.
(The Hindu-15/02/06 - Wednesday)
Partial commissioning of water scheme today
Staff Reporter
DFID-aided scheme expected to provide relief to residents of West Kochi
* Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan to inaugurate tank
* Constructed at a cost of Rs.2.2 crores
KOCHI: Water Resources Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan will conduct the partial commissioning of the DFID-assisted Water Supply Augmentation Scheme for West Kochi on Wednesday.
The Minister will inaugurate the new water tank constructed at the Modi Bathroom Junction in Fort Kochi, marking the completion of Zone I of the DFID-assisted Augmentation Scheme.
Industries Minister V.K. Ebrahim Kunju will preside. Fisheries and Sports Minister Dominic Presentation; Mayor Mercy Williams; Sebastian Paul, MP; and District Collector A.P.M. Mohammed Hanish will make the keynote address. Kerala Water Authority (KWA) Managing Director T.P. Mohanlal; C. Suresh Babu, Technical Member, KWA; Susan Jacob, Chief Engineer and councillors will attend the function. The tank with capacity of 2.2 MLD (million litres per day) is expected to provide relief to residents of water-starved West Kochi. It was constructed at a cost of Rs.2.2 crores.
However, work on the remaining three zones in the DFID-assisted scheme is yet to be completed. While the pipes for the distribution network under zone III have started arriving, prospects of completing work on zone II and IV are still uncertain, with a Vigilance case pending on the issue.
As the completion of the scheme may be delayed indefinitely, the KWA has decided to partially commission the scheme. Even this partial commissioning was expected to be held in mid-December last year.
The augmentation scheme, supported by the U.K. Government's Department for International Development (DFID), is one of the many components of the British Government's Urban Poverty Alleviation Scheme for poor countries.
The total estimate is Rs. 17 crores, which the KWA has already received from the Corporation. But, the entire project cost is expected to go up to Rs.35 crores, according to KWA officials.
Additional amount
The KWA officials also expect to get an additional amount of Rs.1.5 crores after settling the difference in the exchange value of the foreign currency.
However, there are apprehensions on whether the partial commissioning of the scheme would bring relief to West Kochi, which is reeling under acute water scarcity round the year.
Experts say that the augmentation project can bring in results only if the ad hoc Augmentation Scheme (earlier known as HUDCO scheme), brings in an increased supply of water from the Aluva Headworks.
The ad hoc scheme has also been dragging on for years. Though it has also been partially commissioned, the full completion of the scheme still appears months away. According to official estimates, the scheme is expected to increase the supply to West Kochi by 5 MLD. The present demand for water in West Kochi is 29 MLD, out of which 14 MLD is now being supplied.
(The Hindu-15/02/06 - Wednesday)
posted by renuramanath at 4:22 AM
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