Stalin inaugurates Coimbatore’s Kurichi-Kuniyamuthur UGD project

COIMBATORE: Chief minister M K Stalin on Thursday inaugurated the Kurichi-Kuniyamuthur underground drainage (UGD) project in the city through videoconferencing. The project was completed at a cost of Rs 597.14 crore under the Amrut scheme.

This UGD project covering Coimbatore corporation’s 14 wards (87 to 100) in the south zone is meant to provide 69,688 house service connections.

The project has been designed for 30 years from 2020. The wastewater volume for a population of 3.92 lakh people in the year 2035 is calculated to be 40.26 million litres per day (MLD). In 2050, the wastewater volume is calculated to be 53.07 MLD when there will be an anticipated population of 5.17 lakh people.

The initial administrative sanction of the project for an estimate of Rs 449 crores was issued in October 2017. A revised administrative sanction for Rs 591.14 crores was issued in February 2019. Laying of sewer pipeline started in 2018 followed by the establishment of a sewage treatment plant (STP) at Vellalore dumpyard in 2019.

The project was due for completion in December 2023 as per the contract terms. However, it was delayed due to various reasons including the Covid lockdown.

According to a senior corporation officer, the corporation has laid sewer pipelines for a stretch of 390.19 kms under the project. “In the total project, nearly 16,200 machine holes have been installed. The scheme has been divided into 13 sewerage zones with 19 lift stations and 11 pumping stations. The sewage collected in the pumping stations will be conveyed to the STP at the Vellalore dumpyard. More than 40,000 house service connections have been provided so far.”

The Vellalore STP, built with a capacity to handle 30.5 MLD, uses the sequential batch reactors method of treatment.

According to the corporation, around 330 kilometres of roads dug for the project purpose have been restored and relaid.