Vellayani water scheme in limbo

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the Kerala Water Authority yet to install heavy duty pumps on the banks of the Vellayani Lake, the Kalliyoor-Venganoor-Vizhinjam-Kovalam water supply scheme is unlikely to take off before summer, say senior officials.

The government’s desperate plan to inaugurate the scheme before its exit was unsuccessful though the crucial works have been completed. “Around 22.9 Million Litres per Day (MLD) water has to be pumped to filtration units inside the Agricultural University, Vellayani. However the companies will start making pumps only after the tender process and the payment of advance. They are still making pumps. All other crucial works including installation of treatment plants, construction of huge head tanks are over,” said senior officials.

The treatment plans have been tested in the past months. The construction of overhead tanks at the new sites at Peringammala, Vandithadam and Muttacaud has already been completed. New tanks have been built at Vandithadam, Kovalam and Mukkola close to the existing ones.

No special supply network will be needed as people already have pipe connections. However water is fed to citizens only once a week in areas like Venganoor, Kovalam, Pallichal and Vizhinjam.

The project was started in October 2012 to meet the growing needs of one lakh citizens along the Vizhinjam-Kovalam tourist corridor.  It will feed most of the needs of townships that are expected to be developed around the Vizhinjam International port.