The Times of India 23.04.2013
Water supply to west Kochi areas may double
KOCHI: After years of delay, the Housing and Urban Development Corporation Ltd's (Hudco) water supply extension project to west Kochi is nearing completion. The Kerala Water Authority (KWA) completed the laying of pipelines near Karanakkodam
- the only pipeline stretch where work has been stuck from 2007 - on
Monday, which is expected to increase water supply to the area by 100%.
Though the Hudco project, which aims to provide drinking water to Vypeen and West Kochi areas was commissioned in 2007, the laying of pipeline along the Karanakkodam stretch remained incomplete due to difficulties in carrying out the work across the railway line in the area. So, water supply through the Hudco pipeline to Perumanoor pump house, which caters to the west Kochi area, had to be stopped. "The work has been completed on Monday evening. The work across the railway line was finished last month. So, we will be able to supply water to the pump house at Perumanoor through the Hudco line soon," said P K Govindankutty, executive engineer, KWA, Pallimukku. "To overcome the difficulties in laying pipes across the railway line, we used the push through method," he said.
Once commissioned, the project will solve the potable water problems in areas like Palluruthy, Edakochi, Kumbalanghi, Fort Kochi and Mattanchery areas. "As of now, around 5 million litres a day (MLD) is being supplied to the west Kochi area. With the completion of the pipeline at Karanakkodam, the water supply to the area will be doubled," Govindankutty said.
Though KWA had invited tenders for laying pipes along the 766-metre stretch, covering Karanakkodam Junction to Chemmath area thrice, the government had quashed all of them citing excess rates quoted by contractors. In 2010, contractors quoted 36% above the estimated cost of Rs 2.31 crore, which the government has now approved after realizing that there were no takers for the project at that rate.
Though the Hudco project, which aims to provide drinking water to Vypeen and West Kochi areas was commissioned in 2007, the laying of pipeline along the Karanakkodam stretch remained incomplete due to difficulties in carrying out the work across the railway line in the area. So, water supply through the Hudco pipeline to Perumanoor pump house, which caters to the west Kochi area, had to be stopped. "The work has been completed on Monday evening. The work across the railway line was finished last month. So, we will be able to supply water to the pump house at Perumanoor through the Hudco line soon," said P K Govindankutty, executive engineer, KWA, Pallimukku. "To overcome the difficulties in laying pipes across the railway line, we used the push through method," he said.
Once commissioned, the project will solve the potable water problems in areas like Palluruthy, Edakochi, Kumbalanghi, Fort Kochi and Mattanchery areas. "As of now, around 5 million litres a day (MLD) is being supplied to the west Kochi area. With the completion of the pipeline at Karanakkodam, the water supply to the area will be doubled," Govindankutty said.
Though KWA had invited tenders for laying pipes along the 766-metre stretch, covering Karanakkodam Junction to Chemmath area thrice, the government had quashed all of them citing excess rates quoted by contractors. In 2010, contractors quoted 36% above the estimated cost of Rs 2.31 crore, which the government has now approved after realizing that there were no takers for the project at that rate.
