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.