Water Resources Minister N.K. Premachandran announced the deadline in a written reply to the Assembly on Wednesday. The treatment plant is part of the Thiruvananthapuram component of the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA)-aided water supply scheme.

Different packages under the scheme will be partially completed by March 31, the Minister said in reply to a query by V. Sivankutty MLA. The Minister also listed out the progress achieved so far: Water treatment plant - 85 percent; transmission main - 86 percent; laying of water distribution pipelines - 58 percent and reservoirs - 60 percent.

The 74 MLD plant will provide an answer to the shortage of drinking water experienced in several parts of the city.

Pipe-bursts in the city over the past few months also found mention in the Assembly on Wednesday. To a question by K.M. Mani, the Water Resources Minister replied that the Kerala Water Authority has not conducted any specific study on damages to water pipes. However, a preliminary study, he said, was conducted on water pipes installed under the Theerapadam Project of the LSG Department.

To another question, the Minister stated that water purification plants are desilted regularly. There is also a system whereby the slush and mud that accumulates in pipelines during repair works are thrown out using the SCOUR valves.