The Hindu Business Line : Kochi SEZ commissions effluent treatment plant

The project comes at a time when many multinational companies were disappearing and a number of joint ventures are appearing in the business arena, like never before, a press release issued here has said. The trial run activities of the plant were switched on by Mr Paul Antony, Development Commissioner, Cochin Special Economic Zone. Coming in an era of mergers and acquisitions in the business economies all over the world, the move is aimed at achieving greater heights and strengthening the base.

The plant is expected to go into full steam by the end of February 2004. The 100 per cent mechanised plant has a capacity to treat 10 lakh litres of effluents a day. There are 55 units in the zone and the effluents from these units will be collected through a network of pipes, before being pumped for treatment. The water discharged from the plant will be monitored on a regular basis to ensure that it is safe for use in agriculture and irrigation.

With the commissioning of the project, it is expected that all units in the zone would be in a position to find a solution to the problem of pollution, in an economic and scientific manner, the release said. The cost of the project is Rs 260 lakh and has been fully funded by the Government of India. The public sector consultancy organisation, KITCO is the consultant for the project.

The project has been timed to coincide with the Clean Kerala Campaign programme initiated by the State Government. With tourism being rated as one of the most suitable and potential economic activity of the State, the creation of a clean environment is an essential ingredient.

The Government of India is campaigning to promote industrial clusters on various sectors throughout India, in order to make them globally competitive. It is advantageous to set up common effluent treatment plants in these industrial cluster projects, the release said.