Drinking water tender; minister's announcement just in words, water authority out

Sunday 05 March, 2023 | 12:43 AM

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Although minister Roshy Augustine announced in the assembly that the drinking water supply will not be handed over to private companies, tenders have been invited for drinking water supply in the Kochi Corporation. The water authority's e-tender is as per the terms of the lender ADB.

There are four sub-divisions of the Water Authority in Kochi Corporation. Each division has Assistant Engineer and related officers appointed. However, it is stated in the 'Employers' Requirements' part of the tender that they will be removed from their duties and reorganized in the water authority itself, and the contracting company will not get the services of the officials. With this, the water authority will only be responsible for preparing the infrastructure for the project. E-tenders can be submitted till April 26. After the company is confirtmed, ADB and the government will negotiate loan terms. At present, it has been agreed in principle to provide loans at 2% interest. The first phase of the 2,510 crore project is being implemented in Kochi. Thiruvananthapuram is in the second phase.

9 zones

The project will be implemented by dividing the four sub-divisions of Kochi Corporation namely Kalur, Karvelipadi, Pallimuk and Vaytila into nine zones. Of this, Pallimuk sub-division will have three zones and others will have two zones each. There will be no new plants, the supply chain will be improved. It is said in the tender that 7.05 lakh meters of the total 12.62 lakh meters pipeline should be renewed.

In the plan