Saving Vembanad: Kochi’s STP Projects Enter Final Stretch

The Local Self-Government Department (LSGD) has reported steady progress on two community-level sewage treatment plant (STP) projects being implemented within Kochi Corporation limits. These initiatives are aimed at preventing the illegal discharge of untreated wastewater into Vembanad Lake in Ernakulam.

The five million litres per day (MLD) STP at Elamkulam has achieved 75% physical progress. Although the co-treatment works at the site faced a temporary disruption due to choking, the Kerala Water Authority has since carried out corrective measures. Officials remain confident that the project will be completed without further setbacks.

Meanwhile, the 1.1 MLD STP at Ambedkar Colony in Division 16, Edakochi South, has reached 71% completion. The project was originally scheduled for completion by June 30, 2025; however, as of October 31, 2025, progress stood at 61%, indicating a delay in execution.

These STP projects are part of a broader set of nine major initiatives aimed at mitigating sewage pollution in the Vembanad and Ashtamudi lakes. The programme includes four sewage treatment plants and a faecal sludge treatment plant at Brahmapuram.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.