Preliminary work for mega drinking water project in Kochi likely to begin soon

With the government releasing the remaining mobilisation funds for the mega drinking water project funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Kochi, preliminary work will now take off.

The first phase of the project, which includes survey and asset mapping in the first year, will be executed by the private company that has signed an agreement with the Kerala Water Authority (KWA). Earlier, a mobilisation advance of around ₹73 crore was released. On Wednesday, the balance amount of ₹39 crore was sanctioned.

A topographical survey, which was suspended in view of the local body elections, will resume now as the mobilisation advance has been handed over to SUEZ, the company executing the project. Along with the GIS survey, a door-to-door consumer survey will also be held. The consumer survey will collect data on consumption, water requirement, and number of residents.

As part of the work carried out earlier, the boundaries of all nine water distribution zones in Kochi have been fixed. The ₹1,141.28-crore project aims to optimise drinking water distribution in the city.

“The first year is the project establishment year, during which the focus will be on surveying and mapping both underground and overground assets. After the GIS survey, a design will be developed,” the sources said. The team has already begun data collection and consolidation. Existing data with the KWA, including drawings, has been handed over to the company and is being digitised. “It is not a one-time process but an iterative one, which will require frequent feedback and suggestions from us,” they added.

10-year project

The agreement between the KWA and SUEZ was signed in June. In the first year, the focus will be on designing and surveying pipelines, while construction activities are scheduled to begin in the second year. The project is being executed under the design-build-operate-transfer model. The company will be responsible for upgrading the water distribution network, including its operation and maintenance, for 10 years.