Civic authorities are racing against time to save central funds for Edakochi STP

The Kochi Corporation is racing against time to complete the sewage treatment project (STP) in Edakochi to prevent the expiry of Central funding for the project.

The deadline for the ₹18.6-crore project, implemented under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), is December 31. Failure to complete the project before the deadline will result in a situation where the Corporation may lose the central allocation of ₹7.75 crore.

So far, only 40% of the project has been completed. The project was delayed from taking off following a series of public protests. It was after marathon discussions with stakeholders that the civic authorities succeeded in launching the plan, officials said.

Even though the Association is planning to talk to the AMRUT authorities seeking an extension of time to complete the work, the officials are also taking steps to ensure that the funds do not run out. Road rehabilitation works under the project will require approximately Rs6.5 crore, which will be met through Central allocation. The funds for road maintenance were transferred to the Society’s account and were considered as the sum already made for road maintenance, thus saving a large part of the budget that would have been exhausted, officials said.

This project, which is the first independent sewage treatment plant in Kochi, is implemented in the 16th Division of the Corporation. It will treat the wastewater discharged from nearly 2,200 households in this section. Recycled water from the treatment plant may be reused for construction purposes.