An ambitious water project of Kochi city corporation aimed at providing pure drinking water at Rs one per litre is fast picking up.

Kochi Mayor Soumini Jain said there is a huge demand from various quarters after the water treatment plant was commissioned at Pandikkudy in Fort Kochi last month.

The plant is now selling over 300 jars of 20 litre capacity drinking water a day, she said.

Water produced at a cost of Rs 10 per 20-litre jar at the plant is being distributed to people in the city corporation by the Kerala's women self-help group 'Kudumbashree' unit for Rs 20. Other branded water jars of 20 litres are sold for a minimum of Rs 50 per jar, the Mayor said.

"Such plants which can process 2000 litres of water in an hour can produce and market 2400 jars of pure water of 20 litre capacity every day. Apart from supplying pure water at affordable price, the project ensures a decent profit and 10 to 12 full time jobs for Kudumbashree workers," she said.

The plant, set up on behalf of Kerala State Women's Development Corporation Ltd (KSWDC), is operated, managed and maintained by Dharana Infrastructure Projects Pvt Ltd, a company incorporated to do social enterprising in the field of affordable, safe drinking water.

P T M Sunish, Managing Director, KSWDC, said more and more local bodies across the state are approaching KSWDC to set up plants in their areas. "We target to set up around 250 plants by the end of this financial year," he said.

The Rs 25.5 lakh plant draws water from a tube-well (common well) in the compound.

The water is processed at six stages--- iron removal filter, dual filter, carbon filter, micron filter, reverse osmosis and ultraviolet filter - before being dispatched for delivery under the brand name Kochi Water, said Eby Thomas, Managing Director, Dharana Infrastructure Projects Pvt Ltd.

"Any contaminated water, other than sea water, can be processed in this plant. 2000 litres of water can be processed in this plant per hour. 2400 jars of pure water of 20 litre capacity each can be produced per day. The water produced in this plant meets or exceeds World Health Organization Standards and Indian Standards ISI0500," he said.