KOCHI: The Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL)'s initiative to distribute potable water in four panchayats around the airport has received a major boost. The presidents of the three panchayats and the KWA officers inked an agreement to implement a potable water project the other day.
The Rs 127 crore drinking water project which will benefit around 30,000 households in Nedumbassery, Chengamanad, Kanjoor and Sreemoolanagaram panchayats in the district will be implemented by ‘Jalanidhi' with the help of the World Bank, said a CIAL release.
According to the proposal, a sum of Rs 60 crore will be set aside to construct a water reservoir and other common amenities, while a total of Rs 67 crore will be earmarked for the supply network.
The project also envisages to share the cost between the state government and various other agencies. The state government is expected to bear 75% of the total cost of the project, while 15 per cent will be borne by the local bodies concerned and 10 percent of the beneficiaries. The CIAL is ready to help the panchayats by providing financial assistance to meet the expense, said V J Kurien, CIAL managing director and additional chief secretary.
A sum of Rs 4,000 will have to be contributed by each beneficiary household and if there are more beneficiaries, the amount to be pooled in by each household will come down, said CIAL officials. They said the KWA customers will not have to pay the amount. Anwar Sadat MLA will also give his share of financial aid from his MLA fund for the project, they said.
The potable water project is expected to be completed in 22 months and all the households will be able to avail 24-hour drinking water supply once the project is completed. KITCO has prepared the project report for the venture.
CIAL recently won the Kerala State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) award for excellence in promoting green energy ventures and adopting best practices in managing and treating waste water at the airport. CIAL was selected for the award considering its achievements in solar power generation and modernising the waste water treating operations in the airport.