The Hindu                09.12.2013

Coimbatore STP work in full swing

Karthik Madhavan

Even as court hearing on Nanjundapuram STP case continues

On the 11-acre plot in Ondipudur, engineers from Gharpure Engineering and Constructions (P) Limited, Pune, are busy constructing a sewage treatment plant (STP) for the Coimbatore Corporation.

The STP that has a capacity to treat 60-million-litre sewage a day will treat sewage from the north-eastern and eastern parts of the city and release the same into River Noyyal, which flows at no distance from the plot.

Even as the work is in progress at Ondipudur – the site engineers say they will complete the work ahead of schedule – the Nanjundapuram STP site stands in contrast.

The Corporation is unable to start the work as residents near the proposed site have moved the Southern Bench of the National Green Tribual, which is hearing the case. According to sources, the case came up for hearing a couple of days ago but the Tribunal had to postpone the hearing as the Corporation’s counsel could not be present for the hearing. At the Ondipudur STP, the engineering company, which has won the contract for the project, has made progress in constructing the two sequential batch reactors, blower room, chlorine tank and many other components of the STP.

The engineers say that at the entry point, the plant will filter wastes measuring 20 mm and at the primary tank, the plant will filter wastes measuring six mm particles. The plant will take the sewage to the first sequential batch reactor and then to the second, from there to the clear water tank, chlorine contract tank and then to the River.

At the time of awarding the work around eight months ago, the Corporation fixed a deadline of 18 months. With 10 months to go, the engineering company will finish the work well within the deadline.

On the drainage construction front, the Corporation has completed one of the three packages, was on the verge of completing another package and had made progress in the third package, says sources.

And, in the first package, the Corporation is waiting for progress in the road-over bridge project at Textool. Once the civic body gets the design, it will proceed with the sewerage linking work.

Even if the Corporation completes the sewerage work and the engineering company the STP work, the entire project will not become operation unless there is progress in the Nanjundapuram STP work. Sources in the Corporation say they are trying their best to convince the Green Tribunal that the civic body has followed the rules in deciding on the location.

The Hindu             31.10.2013

Ooty Lake pollution prevention measures gain momentum

A major work entrusted to the Public Works Department-Water Resources Organisation (PWD-WRO) to prevent pollution of the Ooty Lake is nearing completion, according to P. Shankar, District Collector of the Nilgiris.

Speaking to The Hindu here on Wednesday, he said that the work involved the cleaning of the 3.06 km Kodappamund Channel which cuts through the town at a cost of Rs. 1.2 crore and the construction of a sewage treatment plant (STP) near the lake at a cost of Rs.1.05 crore. Over 90 per cent of the work has been completed.

Stating that trial runs have commenced at the STP, he said that it would be commissioned soon. The total amount sanctioned by the Government to clean the lake was Rs. 4.77 crore, he said.

Pointing out that instructions have been issued to construct retaining walls wherever necessary along the channel to prevent soil erosion, he said that the officials have been asked to erect fences to prevent dumping of discarded items into the channel. Efforts would be made to create awareness among the people particularly those residing along the channel and the lake about the need to keep them clean. A committee would be formed for this. Effluents of 13 buildings situated around the lake are entering the lake.

The Lake Management Committee formed by the Government has become a registered society. A Rs. 9 crore proposal has been submitted for putting in place a submersible diffuser system for keeping the lake water clean. Since the Tamil Nadu Water Investment Company Limited has come up with another proposal, a meeting would be held on November 9. He said that steps would be taken to provide sewage connections to 6,745 households which have not been covered in the existing underground sewage scheme. Earlier Mr. Shankar inspected the Kodappamund channel and the STP. Among those who accompanied him was the Project Director, Hill Area Development Programme (HADP), Srinivas R.Reddy.