Water treatment plant inauguration further delayed

KOLLAM: The inauguration of the Rs 5.65-crore water treatment plant at Sasthamkotta supplying drinking water to the  majority of Kollam residents has been delayed  indefinitely. 

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had agreed to inaugurate the plant on March 20, but  changed his plan at the last minute following intelligence reports that the local people would protest against the government’s failure in conserving the lake.

The government had declared many projects to protect the dying Sasthamkotta lake but they have remained on paper. The lake is the sole source of water to the renovated filtration unit of the Kerala Water Authority.

“The renovated plant will increase the quantity of water pumping to Kollam. The decision on inauguration was made at a higher level without informing the engineers who worked day and night for the project,” an  official of the KWA told DC on condition of anonymity. 

They decided on it despite some technical flaws in the pumping system and hoped to pass the bills, he alleged. The lake protection council has charged the government with giving false promises to the common man.

“We have seen strikes related to endosulfan, Plachimada and Nilppu samaram, but nothing has happened as the  government lacks the will to do good to the people.  The laxity shown by the employees is secondary. The Chief Minister is also part of this,” Mr S. Babuji, Sasthamkotta lake protection activist, told DC.