Choondy scheme

Kerala
KWA begins work on 'Choondy Scheme'

Renu Ramanath

Scheme will increase supply of water to Thripunithura and neighbouring panchayats

Scheme is estimated to cost Rs.52 crores
It will be completed within a couple of years
Needs no land acquisition

KOCHI: The Kerala Water Authority (KWA) has started work on the water supply scheme to Thripunithura municipality and adjoining panchayats known as 'Choondy Scheme.'

The scheme is expected to increase the supply of water to Thripunithura and the adjoining panchayats, including Chottanikkara, Thiruvankulam, Maradu panchayats as well as to some parts of Udayamperoor panchyat. The 46 MLD (million litres per day) of water, to be supplied through the scheme, will be drawn from the river Muvattupuzhayar at Ramamangalam. The water will be stored in the plant at Choondy.

The scheme, with an estimated cost of Rs.52 crores, is expected to be completed within a couple of years. The KWA authorities hope to complete the scheme without much delay as the project has relatively smaller number of bottlenecks compared to the other projects. The biggest advantage of the project is that almost no acquisition of land is required for the project. A good part of the basic infrastructure is already in place.

The KWA already used to operate a plant for industrial water supply from Ramamangalam, catering to the units like Kochi Refineries Limited and Milma. The idea of the scheme was initiated, as the KRL started their own water supply scheme leading to the availability of a surplus quantity of water from there.

A well and raw water pumping station already exists at Ramamangalam, as well as a sedimentation plant at Choondy. As the water supply was for industrial purposes, there was no filter plant, which needs to be constructed now at Choondy.

The pipe-laying along the Puthenkurissu-Karimukal Road on the 14-km stretch to Karingachira from Choondy has already started. Sanction for cutting along the 4.4 km of road belonging to the Public Works Department was obtained, and 2.2 km of road has already been cut. However, the work has been slowed down due to rain. The KWA authorities are hopeful that up to 500 m could be done without obstructing road traffic.

However, the Karimukal-Puthiya Road Junction stretch was tarred by the Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP) and was handed over to the PWD. Obtaining sanction for cutting this stretch is a difficult task and needs to be taken up at the highest levels of bureaucracy. Some portion along the way, from Choondy to Puthenkurissu, is part of the NH-49, coming under the purview of the National Highways Authority of India. The work could start immediately, once the permission is obtained.

The Rs.53-crore project is being done with a loan from the Federal Bank. Construction of 46 MLD plant at Choondy is a major part of the project. An overhead tank will be constructed near the Hill Palace also, for which 10 cents of land will be necessary. Arrangements have been completed for obtaining this land, according to the KWA authorities.

There are existing tanks at Maradu and Thripunithura, which would be used for this project.
(The Hindu, Wednesday, August 2, 2006)