KWA to procure new pump at Aluva water treatment plant

Kochi: In an effort to provide a temporary relief to water woes of city residents, KWA is planning to procure a new pump set at water treatment plant at Aluva so as to enhance generation of water from there. Once the pump set becomes operational, capacity of the plant can be enhanced from 335 million litres per day (mld) to 345 mld and the additional water generated thus can be allocated to city.Although KWA already invited tenders for procuring new pump set at Aluva, even the lowest bidder quoted well above tender rates. Now, KWA requires permission of govt for awarding tender to the lowest bidder who quoted rates above the estimated sum. Water resources minister Roshy Augustine who convened a meeting of KWA officials following a request by T J Vinod, MLA, to find a solution to water shortage in the city last week, informed that govt will give nod for increased estimate for procuring bills. "It is expected that govt will issue orders for the same soon," a KWA official said.
Several parts of city are facing severe shortage of drinking water. Besides normal shortage caused by summer, this time partial collapse of a water storage tank at Thammanam in Nov last year worsened the issue. "Though KWA tried to store water in a tank already constructed at Kaloor and carry out boosting or pumping with enhanced pressure from there, that experiment failed. So, that was abandoned. Now, the only immediate solution to water woes of city residents is enhancing pumping from water treatment plant at Aluva. The only lasting solution is setting up a 190 mld water treatment plant at Aluva and govt will expedite steps for the same," mayor V K Minimol said.There were two chambers in the Thammanam tank and sidewalls of one of the chambers collapsed. Though KWA repaired the walls which border the chambers and retained the other chamber, the collapsed chamber could not be repaired. Total capacity of the two chambers was 1.35 crore litres. Following partial collapse of the tank, storage capacity was reduced to 85 lakh litres. Subsequently, timing of pumping from the storage tanks to various parts of city had to be decreased. This aggravated water shortage in the city.Structural engineers from Cusat and PWD conducted an inspection and they, in association with KWA, will take measures to plug the leak in the existing chamber of the tank. Measures will also be taken to reinforce walls of the collapsed chamber. Other measures to strengthen the tank will also be taken, said KWA officials.