T’puram: Legal proceedings involving a disqualified contractor delayed the second phase of the proposed sewerage project for Attukal and surrounding areas, forcing Kerala Water Authority (KWA) to initiate a fresh tender process in June.
According to KWA officials, the contractor who was selected for the second phase was later found ineligible during scrutiny of qualification documents and was subsequently disqualified. The contractor challenged the decision before high court and obtained a stay order, halting further proceedings.
However, sources in KWA said the court has now reportedly upheld the authority’s position, and an order is expected soon vacating the stay and paving the way for the removal of the contractor. Once the order is received, KWA plans to float a fresh tender in June and select a new contractor.
“The work could have started much earlier had the contractor not approached HC. We disqualified the bidder after finding that the eligibility criteria were not met. The legal proceedings resulted in considerable delay. The project was also affected by the election code of conduct during the general elections, which slowed down administrative processes,” a senior KWA official said.
Officials estimate that even after the fresh tender is floated, it may take around three months to complete the tendering process, award the contract and begin field-level works.
The sewerage expansion project, estimated around Rs 100 crore, is being implemented in three phases to improve underground sewer connectivity in Attukal and neighbouring areas, many of which currently depend on septic tanks and lack a comprehensive sewer network.
The first phase, estimated at Rs 37.7 crore, already completed tender procedures and includes laying nearly 18km of sewer pipelines in Attukal and Kalady wards. The work also involves the construction of manholes, storage wells and a pump house. Sewage collected through the network will be pumped to the Muttathara Sewage Treatment Plant for treatment.
The second phase forms a crucial component of the overall project as it seeks to extend the sewer network to additional residential pockets and strengthen sewage collection infrastructure in the region. With fresh tenders expected next month, KWA hopes the project can regain momentum after months of delay caused by litigation and administrative hurdles.
Rahul R is a Senior Reporter with the Times of India, Thiruvanant...
Read MoreRahul R is a Senior Reporter with the Times of India, Thiruvananthapuram bureau. He covers the Kerala Water Authority, environment, crime, and civic and general issues in the state capital.
He began his journalism career with The New Indian Express in Kerala, where he independently handled the Kollam district as a single-person bureau, reporting across beats and breaking key local stories.
His core interest lies in investigative reporting and in digging deep into institutional processes to connect the dots behind complex events.
In his free time, he enjoys reading, writing short stories, and listening to music.
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