While the Kerala Water Authority (KWA), district administration and city corporation maintain that work on the much awaited Piravom drinking water project will start soon, the scheme may get delayed due to stiff opposition from National Highway Authority (NHAI).
As NHAI is strongly opposing the trenching of NH 47 to lay pipelines, it is unlikely to start work by next month, as promised by KWA authorities.
“As per the norms of the ministry of road transport and highways, the lateral cutting of the NH can’t be sanctioned.
Though vertical trenching for laying pipelines or cables is allowed in emergency cases, lengthwise cutting can’t be allowed as per the rules,” said NHAI project director C.T. Abraham.
According to the existing plan, NH 47 has to be dug from Maradu to Aroor to complete the laying of the pipeline.
KWA is undertaking the project for the Kochi corporation and district administration is coordinating the land acquisition.
“We’ve submitted a letter to the minister and KWA authorities in this regard. They can lay the pipeline through the un-tarred extreme side of the NH for which additional land acquisition will be needed,” added Mr Abraham.
The project that was supposed to be over by March, has been delayed due to opposition from local bodies and the public against digging roads to lay the pipeline through the Piravom-Mulanthuruthy Road.
The JNNURM-funded scheme has revived after local people recently accepted an alternate alignment proposed by the state-level empowered committee.
Contractors have sought revised rates to implement the project. The excess amount demanded has to be sanctioned by the state-level empowered committee.
“State will take immediate measures to approve this amount and negotiate with NHAI authorities. A negotiation meeting will be convened by the end of this month,” said K. Babu, minister representing the district.