The Idakochi drinking water project, including a new underground tank and pipeline network, is expected to be completed in December, Kochi Mayor V.K. Minimol said during an inspection of the works in Palluruthy. The AMRUT-backed project is intended to address persistent water shortages in the Idakochi area.
The overhead tank for the project has already been completed, while construction of the underground tank is in its final stage. Water Authority officials said pipeline work in the stretch from the Kozhikoodu bus stop to the southern end of Idakochi would be completed soon.
The project will use a pipeline network laid from Maradu to bring water into the area. Once construction of both tanks is finished, water stored in the underground tank will be pumped into the overhead tank and then distributed to different parts of Idakochi.
The completed overhead tank has a storage capacity of 1.3 million litres. The underground tank will be capable of storing 500,000 litres of water. Together, the storage and pumping infrastructure is designed to improve the reliability of supply to neighbourhoods that have faced shortages.
More than 700 free drinking water connections have already been provided in the Idakochi area through the AMRUT project, according to the report. The new distribution network is expected to extend the benefits of the scheme to additional households once the remaining pipeline and tank works are completed.
Mayor Minimol visited the site along with MLA Deepak Joy to assess the progress of the works. Kochi Corporation standing committee chairpersons T.K. Ashraf and Antony Painuthara, councillor Lasitha Peter, former councillors John Ribello, Abhilash Thoppil, P.D. Suresh and Jija Tenson, along with Water Authority officials, were also present.
The project’s next major milestone is the completion of the underground tank and the remaining pipeline work. Officials have said the works are expected to be completed in December, after which the storage and pumping system can be used to supply water across Idakochi.
