Kerala minister announces ₹523-crore water project to end Kochi's drinking water crisis
Water Resources Minister Mons Joseph informed the Kerala Assembly on Tuesday that a ₹523-crore project has been approved as a long-term solution to the drinking water shortage in Kochi. The project is currently awaiting final administrative sanction from the Finance Department.
Replying to a Calling Attention motion moved by T.J. Vinod, who highlighted the acute water shortage in Kochi, Mr. Joseph said the project involves setting up a 190 million litres per day (MLD) drinking water treatment and storage plant, along with a pump house and pump set, on the banks of the Periyar river in Aluva. The facility will serve the Kochi Corporation, five adjoining municipalities, and 13 panchayats, and has been planned based on projected water consumption patterns up to the year 2050.
Mr. Joseph also announced that the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) is constructing a 25-lakh-litre capacity water storage tank and sump on its own land to permanently address the disruption in water supply distribution caused by the collapse of one of the storage compartments of the Thammanam 135 MLD plant. An estimate of ₹30 crore has been prepared for this project.
The Minister further stated that the Jal Jeevan scheme is being expedited to provide water connections to all households in all panchayats. Additionally, the AMRUT scheme for water supply distribution within the Kochi Corporation area is progressing rapidly.
