Coimbatore: Construction of the sewage treatment plant (STP) at Nanjundapuram, which was abandoned 10 years ago has begun. The plant , which will be able to treat 40 million litres per day (MLD) sewage water, is expected to be ready within 18 months The city corporation had finalised the contractor to execute the pending work in January, a senior official said. “Once the work is completed, the plant will be connected to the underground drainage (UGD) project. It will treat sewage water from households in 20 wards. The contractor will operate and maintain it for five years,” he said.Due to the delay, the project cost escalated to Rs 62crore from Rs 45crore, the official said. “The corporation was forced to abandon the construction in 2008 after Nanjundapuram residents launched a protest. The residents had filed petitions in the Madras high court, national green tribunal (NGT) and the pollution control board, claiming that the civic body did not follow the minimum distance criteria. By that time, as much as 60% of construction worth Rs 18crore was completed,” he told TOI.While the corporation cleared the legal hurdles in 2018 and was expecting the work to continue, the contractor did not commence the work. Subsequently, the corporation terminated the contractor and floated a new tender.Meanwhile, it will take six months to complete the construction of the UGD on Trichy Road near Singanallur, the official said. “We have asked the contractor to speed up the work. But as the work is done only during the night because of traffic congestion, it will take some time.”The civic body has started giving sewage connections to households. It has selected three contractors to carry out the work. “Preference is given to households along Periyakulam in order to check the entry of sewage water into the lake,” the official added.

Stay updated with all the Coimbatore Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.