THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The city corporation has preferred a centralized sewage management while initiating steps to resume the laying of sewage network connecting Kazhakkoottam and Muttathara.

The corporation had mooted a decentralized sewage management on area basis at Kazhakkoottam to address the soaring issue of managing septage in the area. The civic body had earlier zeroed in on areas which were earlier identified to set up sewage pumping stations under JNNURM project to establish decentralized septage management plants.

However, the idea was dropped as officials raised various factors like recurring costs, local protests and other practical difficulties during a review meeting convened by mayor V K Prasanth last week. As per the latest decision, the corporation has decided to resume the proposal on sewage network between Kazhakkoottam and Muttathara by laying lines in various areas like Edathara, Karimanal, Akkulam and Kazhakkoottam.

It's going to be a mammoth challenge for KWA and corporation in terms of finance and other hurdles associated with the work. The initial plan is to lay a main line to Muttathara STP and then open up options for linking this line to private households or the corporation. The main line needs to be laid at a depth of 6m covering a distance of 10km. While the earlier project cost envisaged during JNNURM was Rs 331 crore, the cost requirement for the new project is expected to be three to four times the JNNURM estimate.