Civic body to hand over Rs 3.34 cr for city sewage treatment plant

Kochi: The corporation council has decided to give Rs 3.34 cr for acquiring land for the Elamkulam sewage treatment plant. The civic body had to modify some of its other plan project proposals for fiscal 2013–2014, to find out the amount needed for land acquisition. The civic body would have had to shelve the project had the funds for land acquisition not been given.

The Union Government had made it clear that the proposed Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) funded sewage treatment plant couldn’t be initiated if land was not handed over in time. 

At a recent corporation council meeting, corporation secretary Ajith Patil had requested the council to allocate Rs 3.34 cr for acquiring land. “The Union Government has made it clear that additional funds could be provided only if land acquisition was complete. If the funds are not be handed over in 10 days, the project will have to be resubmitted”, the secretary said.

The second phase of the Elamkulam sewage plant meant for the central city area, has been a non starter for want of funds. Though the initial estimate was put at Rs 73 cr, it has gone up to Rs 153 cr now. JNNURM will provide the funds for laying the network of pipelines and other components of the project.