Revenue department approves land acquisition for Vennala sewage treatment plant

Kochi: The revenue department has approved a proposal for acquiring 3.14 hectares of land for the proposed sewage treatment plant (STP) to be established in Vennala under the Integrated Urban Regeneration Water Transport System (IURWTS) project of Kochi Metro. The land in Kanayannur taluk is being acquired under the 2013 LARR Act.The govt had earlier appointed a consultancy in Kozhikode to conduct a social impact assessment (SIA) study for land acquisition and a public hearing was also conducted following complaints were raised against the proposal by several people. The final report of the study recommended proceeding with the acquisition of the identified land in Vennala. Following this, an expert committee evaluated the report and gave the green signal. The district collector then recommended proceeding with the land acquisition."The govt reviewed the matter in detail. Based on the expert committee's recommendation, the social impact study report and the Ernakulam district collector's report, permission was granted to proceed with the land acquisition for the Vennala sewage plant. It is subject to the condition that if the land includes paddy fields, conversion must comply with the procedures outlined in the 2008 Kerala Paddy Field and Wetland Conservation Act and related rules," the order stated.Kerala Water Authority and Kochi Metro are collaborating to establish several STPs, including the one in Vennala, to address the poor sewage networks in the city.