By Chief Minister Pinarayi
Copyright thehindu
Thrissur has set a benchmark in sustainable waste management. The Kerala State Pollution Control Board has conferred this year’s first prize on the 360 KLD Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) installed at the Thrissur Corporation General Hospital. The announcement was made on September 24, 2025 (Wednesday).
When the State government handed over the General Hospital to the Thrissur Corporation in 2016, it had no modern facilities for wastewater treatment— most of the sewage was being discharged directly into canals. Since then, the hospital has seen historic transformations, from the establishment of a cath lab for cardiac patients to a host of projects that caught the State’s attention, Mayor M.K. Varghese said.
“Understanding the urgent need for wastewater recycling, the Corporation Council had approved a plan in 2015 to set up a modern STP. The plant now treats sewage from toilets, bathrooms, and the canteen, recycling it for flushing and gardening purposes. The facility can process up to 360 kilolitres of wastewater per day, using advanced ultra-filtration technology.”
Built under the AMRUT scheme at a cost of ₹4.5 crore, the system includes oil traps, anoxic tanks for nitrogen reduction, aeration with MBBR (Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor) media for microbial treatment, and final disinfection with chlorine and ultra-filtration membranes. The result is clear, odour-free, reusable water — delivered without causing pollution or foul smell in the surrounding area.
This milestone comes at a time when Thrissur is redefining its urban landscape — transforming Lalooor, once seen as the city’s garbage dump, into an international sports complex named after football legend I.M. Vijayan.
The award will be formally presented by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at the AURA 2K25 – 50 Years of Environmental Stewardship international environmental conclave, to be held at ADLUX International Convention Centre, Karukutty on September 27, as part of the Pollution Control Board’s Golden Jubilee celebrations.
The recognition was given in the category of hospitals with 100–250 beds, honouring a socially committed project that delivers public benefit. The Thrissur Corporation General Hospital’s initiative is not just an engineering achievement but also a learning model for sustainable urban growth as the city steps into its metropolitan future, the Mayor added.
