KOCHI: In what might come as a shocker to Kochiites, a recent study on sanitation has revealed that 90 per cent of the ground water in Kochi is contaminated. The study conducted by the German International Cooperation (GIZ) as part of the Kochi Corporation’s City Sanitation Plan also revealed that the contamination was mainly due to the discharge of toilet, kitchen and other liquid waste to the drains. The study further said the existing sewerage system was capable of treating only 5 percent of the sewerage generated per day in the city. “A total of 19 per cent of the households under the Corporation limit do not have individual toilet facilities. Here, the residents depend on sharing toilets,” says the study.Kochi ranks 81 among the 432 cities in the country in sanitation facilities amd the existing system is insufficient to meet the requirements of the city. The Corporation has already mooted two sewerage projects- the construction of a new sewerage treatment plant at Mundamveli and renovation of existing one at Elamkulam. But, the study says both the projects are a big challenge to the civic body as they are economically and technically not feasible.“According to the study, implementation of both the projects will be a great challenge to the Corporation. However, considering the gravity of the situation, we will try to implement the projects as soon as possible,” said Kochi Corporation Town Planning Committee chairman K J Sohan.Though the Corporation plans to implement both the projects, it will only be adequate to treat only 25 percent of the sewage generated in the city, according to the study. With nearly 70 tanker lorries making two trips a day to transport septic waste, the Corporation is also incurring a financial loss of nearly `3 lakh per day. A modernised sewerage treatment plant with underground pipes can be a good solution to this, the study said. Sohan said GIS had already reached a consensus with a Delhi-based agency for preparing a detailed project report for a model project on sanitation that will be implemented in two selected wards. “The agency had already prepared the DPR. Accordingly, the model project will be implemented in two divisions - Nazareth and Kathrukkadavu,” he said.Sohan added that the Corporation authorities should look into the possibilities of preparing a Master Plan related with the Sewerage Treatment for solving the situation.
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