‘Water supply scheme crucial for wooing investors to Infopark’
A new water supply scheme being implemented by the Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Kinfra) in Kakkanad is central to the future of Kerala’s showpiece IT hub, Infopark, to attract fresh investments as some major IT destinations grapple with severe water shortage, forcing companies to look for Tier2 centres like Kochi.
Seeking to clear the air of misunderstandings on the water supply project, currently under construction, Kinfra Managing Director Santhosh Koshy Thomas said 80% or more of the 4 MLD (million litres per day) water being drawn by Kinfra now goes to meet the daily requirements of over a lakh employees at Infopark. Only around 20% of the water is used for industrial purposes, contrary to claims by those opposed to the project, he added.
It is no longer feasible to draw 4 MLD water from Kadambrayar owing to the disruption in water availability during the NovemberJune period in the last few years and saline water incursion, said Mr. Thomas.
Around 80% of the 4 MLD water being drawn by Kinfra goes to meet daily requirements of employees at Infopark, says Kinfra MD
Water scarcity
If scarcity of water drives away companies from Infopark, it will be a big loss for the State. The Infopark authorities had taken initiative in 2023 to approach the government and highlight the centrality of the water supply scheme for further growth of the facility. The government had responded positively calling for progress in the scheme, ensuring smooth drinking water supply.
Studies showed that the Periyar would have a water reserve of over 1,043 million litres after meeting the requirements of the Kerala Water Authority and Kinfra, said Mr. Thomas.
He added that the project had been labelled a 45MLD water supply scheme, but the specified volume of water would be required only by 2050.
Infopark is now engaging tankers for at least a part of its water supply. At the same time, the IT hub is expecting a surge in its workforce soon from around 67,000 to 75,000. This entails the need for more water, said a senior Infopark official.
Objections against the Kinfra water scheme are being raised at a time when the State government is trying hard to woo more investments, especially in high technology areas. Mr. Thomas said several rounds of discussions had been held between the government and those opposed to the project. The entire gamut of facts have been presented before them to pave way for the smooth implementation of the project, he said.