The Hindu 27.12.2010
Work on sewage treatment plant to be expedited
Staff Reporter
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Mayor K. Chandrika will convene a meeting of
contractors, coastal wards’ councillors and Kerala Water Authority (KWA)
officials early next month in a bid to expedite work on the Muttathara
Sewage Treatment Plant project.
The Rs.80-crore Sewage Treatment Plant (STP), being jointly set up by
the city Corporation and Kerala Water Authority, was to be completed by
October this year. However, frequent disruption of work, shortage of
supplies and payment issues between the main contractors, the New
Delhi-based UEM Company, and the sub-contractors, KGN Construction
Company, had led to delay in commissioning of the project.
Valiyathura ward councillor Tony Oliver said that only around 12 per
cent of the work had been completed so far. “Due to issues between the
main contractors, the first sub-contractor, the Ernakulam-based PGCC
company, had left the project mid-way. Now what we understand is that
the new sub-contractors are also facing difficulties in getting supplies
and payment on time,” he said.
Following an adjournment motion moved by Mr. Oliver at the first
meeting of the newly elected Corporation council earlier this month,
Mayor Chandrika visited the plant recently and decided to convene a
meeting of stakeholders in the second week of January, 2011.
She also informed the council that the Corporation had asked the
contractors to complete at least 50 per cent of the works by March 31,
2011.
A spokesperson of KGN company said apart from shortage of cement and
materials, incessant rain in previous months had also disrupted the
project works. He said the contractors were now planning to increase the
plant capacity and re-do the design of the plant.