The Hindu 28.12.2010
FACT to continue water supply scheme in Eloor municipality
Scheme to be continued for another year
16 lakh litres of water supplied a day
KOCHI: The Fertilizers and Chemicals Travancore Limited (FACT) will continue its water supply scheme in Eloor municipality for one more year. The scheme was set to expire on January 15.
The decision was taken following an assurance given by the Kerala State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) at a meeting convened by the board on Monday that it would collect the dues owed by three other public sector companies associated with the scheme to FACT.
KSPCB also promised steps to ensure prompt contribution by the companies towards the scheme in future as well, FACT sources said.
Meanwhile, Kerala Water Authority (KWA) has been asked to speed up the commissioning of its new water supply scheme, enabling it to eventually replace the FACT scheme, KSPCB sources said.
Under the scheme launched two years ago, FACT with the support of Hindustan Insecticides Limited (HIL), Indian Rare Earths Limited (IRE), and Merchem had been supplying about 16 lakh litres of water a day benefitting 3,000-odd households in Eloor municipality. The understanding had been to continue this arrangement till January 15, after which the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) would take over and source the water.
FACT sources said that the scheme costs Rs.5 lakh a month, which was to be shared equally between the four participating companies. However, the other three participating companies collectively ran up a total arrears of Rs.27.83 lakh, they said. This forced FACT to consider discontinuing the scheme after the cut-off date of January 15.
FACT had indeed written to the KSPCB and Eloor municipality to relieve it of the responsibility of supplying water. This prompted the KSPCB to convene the meeting to discuss the issue.
With KWA unable to replace the scheme in the prevailing circumstances, there was no other alternative but to urge FACT to continue the service.
KWA would be able to replace the FACT scheme only on commissioning its Goshree Islands Development Authority-backed water supply scheme meant for Varapuzha and Kadamakudy by sourcing water from Muppathadam. Administrative sanction had been received for the scheme and now the works remain to be awarded.
Once the project is completed, it would enable KWA to use the water being pumped from Kalamassery under the Kochi water supply scheme exclusively for Eloor. Right now the water from Kalamassery is being split between Eloor and Varapuzha leaving both regions short of drinking water, sources said.
The meeting was attended by representatives of KSPCB, KWA, Eloor municipality, and four participating companies.
