Sewage pipeline project to resolve sanitation gap in Attukal

Thiruvananthapuram: Authorities will soon begin work on a long-pending underground sewage pipeline network in Attukal, one of the city's most densely populated areas, aiming to address sanitation concerns in the locality.Attukal also serves as a major congregation point during the annual pongala festival, which draws lakhs of devotees. Despite its significance, the area currently relies largely on septic tank systems, raising environmental and public health concerns.
According to authorities, the first phase of the project includes laying 18km of sewage pipelines across Attukal and Kalady areas, covering key residential pockets. Sewage collected through the network will be directed to storage wells at Kalladimukku and then channelled to the sewage treatment plant at Muttathara for processing. An amount of Rs 37 crore has been earmarked for the first phase. Kerala Water Authority's sewage wing is implementing the project with support from city corporation under the Urban Infrastructure Development Fund. A Mumbai-based private firm has been awarded the contract. Officials said work is expected to commence after the conclusion of Attukal Pongala festival on March 3. The project is intended to bridge a long-standing infrastructure gap in the area, which experiences a sharp surge in population during the festival season, placing heavy pressure on sanitation facilities. Authorities said the underground pipeline network would reduce dependence on septic tanks and help prevent untreated sewage from flowing into open drains, soil and nearby water bodies. At present, households depend on septic tanks that often overflow or leak. Once filled, they are manually cleaned by the corporation. In several instances, untreated sewage enters nearby Killiyar River, officials said. During peak festival periods, local households and institutions provide temporary sanitation support to pilgrims, but the lack of a permanent sewage system has remained a recurring challenge. The project was first proposed in 2020 and received a detailed project report approval in 2023. However, it was delayed as no contractor came forward in the initial phase. Later, a selected contractor failed to furnish the required guarantee amount and was disqualified, necessitating a re-tender process before the issues were resolved, said R Unnikrishnan, former councillor of Attukal.