Attukal sewerage project likely to be delayed until after assembly elections

Thiruvananthapuram: The proposed sewerage project in Attukal is likely to be delayed, with major construction works expected to begin only after the upcoming assembly elections.Officials of sewage wing of Kerala Water Authority said tender process for the first phase has been completed and contract has been awarded. However, work has not commenced as the pipes required for laying the sewer network are yet to be procured.
Officials said that even if the purchase order for the pipes is issued immediately, it would take around a month for the materials to reach the site. By then, the election process is expected to be under way, making it difficult to carry out road excavation and pipeline laying works, which require necessary permissions from the corporation. The second phase of the project has also encountered hurdles. According to officials, only one bidder participated in the tender process, but the bidder was found ineligible during technical evaluation. A fresh tender will have to be issued, and the process is expected to take around two months. Officials indicated that this too is likely to move forward only after the elections. The project, estimated to cost around Rs 100 crore, is being implemented in three phases to expand the underground sewer network in Attukal and nearby areas. The first phase, estimated at Rs 37.7 crore, involves laying around 18km of sewer pipelines across Attukal and Kalady wards. It also includes the construction of manholes, storage wells and a pump house to facilitate the collection of sewage. The sewage collected from these areas will be pumped to Muttathara sewage treatment plant for treatment.