KOCHI: The per day sewage flow of Kochi city is estimated at 121 litres and the sewage overflows into artificial and natural drains causing deterioration of general hygiene.Considering the gravity of the situation, the Kochi Corporation has decided to urge the Kerala Coastal Zone Management Authority to give clearance to the proposed sewerage treatment plant (STP) at Mundamveli.The decision was announced by Mayor Tony Chammany after a detailed presentation by the Kerala Sustainable Urban Development Project (KSUDP) on the proposed plant at the Corporation Council Hall on Friday.The main aim of the presentation was to create awareness among the councillors on the necessity of such a facility in the city. The Sewerage Treatment Plant was actually proposed under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).The project was at a standstill after the Coastal Zone Management Authority’s objection. However, the Ministry of Environment and Forests gave the nod to the project.The proposed sewerage treatment plant (STP) will be set up on five acres of land handed over by the GCDA at Mundamveli.The proposed plant will cover wards 1 to 10, 24 to 28 and a part of ward 11.A total of 8.236 square kilometres is the total project area and the population that will be benefited from the plant is estimated at 1.80 lakh.The projected cost of the network is estimated at Rs 77.10 crore and for the construction of the STP an additional amount of Rs 27 crore has been earmarked.The plant will have a capacity of 12 million litres per day (mld) initially, which will be enhanced to 23 mld in the second phase. Regarding the selection of West Kochi to build the plant, K Rajasekharan, team leader, technical support unit, KSUDP, who led the presentation said that Mattanchery and Fort Kochi have the highest density of population in the city with 16,800 persons per sq km, while the average for Kochi is 6,286 persons per sq km. “Thus West Kochi was selected for developing sewerage and sewage treatment in the first phase,” he said. After creating awareness among the councillors, the next step is to educate people about the necessity of such a facility. “The Asian Development Bank (ADB) may withdraw the assistance if the KSUDP is unable to tender the package for STP soon. It is the clearance by the local people that is of utmost importance now. We will organise awareness classes and hearings for the public to ensure a troublefree plant and clean environment,” he said.
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