Kochi: A high-level meeting held in Thiruvananthapuram recently decided to put the Kinfra water project in Kochi on hold until further studies on availability of water from Periyar river is conducted. It was following objections from Thrikkakara MLA Uma Thomas and Aluva MLA Anwar Sadat and officials with the irrigation department citing shortage of water in Periyar that the meeting decided to conduct fresh studies.
Earlier, a report by the irrigation department had stated that there is not adequate water in Periyar for setting up another water treatment plant. Still, the high-level meeting attended by industries minister P Rajeeve and water resources minister Roshy Augustine discussed the viability of the project on Wednesday.
The MLAs who opposed the project said that the Kinfra water project should not be implemented until the 190 million litre per day (MLD) project for providing water to Kochi residents is implemented.
“We aired our views that the priority should be given to the 190 MLD project that is expected to cater to the needs of the residents in Kochi and suburbs. The people in Kochi and neighbouring local bodies are suffering from acute shortage of drinking water. The Kinfra project is for industrial purposes. The priority should be for the project for the residents,” Uma Thomas said.
Officials with Kerala water authority said they will conduct a study with the support of irrigation department officials. Though the meeting also held discussions on the 190 MLD project, a concrete decision on when to start the project and its funding has not been taken.
