The Hindu 05.11.2009
Corporation to buy 37 acres more at Brahmapuram
Staff Reporter
| Civic body reaches understanding with landowners |
Government sanctions Rs. 85 crore for
purchase of the land
Idukki cooperative society offers to buy
bio-manure at Rs. 3 per kg
KOCHI: The Kochi Corporation will soon buy 37 acres adjoining its holding at Brahmapuram where its solid waste treatment plant is functioning.
The State government has sanctioned Rs.85 crore required for taking possession of the land there. The corporation had earlier sought the support of the government for purchasing the land. With the addition of the 37 acres, the corporation will become the owner of 100 acres there.
Though the funds have been sanctioned, it will be released only after the Ernakulam bypoll, fearing violation of the model code of conduct. A government order releasing the fund will also be issued after the election, officials said.
The corporation had earlier taken possession of 63 acres at Brahmapuram. There are around 30 families residing in the land that is to be purchased. The civic body had reached an understanding with the landowners for the land purchase. The families will sign agreements with the corporation once the decision to purchase the land is communicated to them, civic officials said.
Earlier, the corporation had to spend considerable amount to reclaim the waterlogged area that it had purchased for setting up the plant. Some of the structures erected in the reclaimed land and the floor laid there had developed cracks as the reclaimed land settled. This had led to a dispute between the agency which implemented the work and the civic body. The Brahmapuram plant was the first project completed in Kochi with the financial support of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.
There has been good demand for the bio-manure produced at Brahmapuram plant by processing the biodegradable waste generated by the city, according to civic officials. Though FACT had offered to purchase the manure from the civic body, the deal has not materialised so far. Meanwhile, a cooperative society from Idukki has approached the civic body for purchasing the manure at the rate of Rs.3 a kg against the Rs.2 a kg offered by FACT, officials said.
