The Hindu 09.12.2013
Coimbatore STP work in full swing
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.