Kochi Corporation to desilt eight major canals ahead of monsoon

The Kochi Corporation is set to intensify its pre-monsoon preparedness, with a proposal to desilt eight major canals in the city likely to be taken up at the council meeting scheduled for Wednesday (March 11).

The Corporation has already begun cleaning drains and smaller canals. The move follows concerns expressed by the Kerala High Court earlier this month over the city’s readiness for the monsoon.

“We are set to undertake cleaning of all eight major canals, including the Thevara–Perandoor Canal (TP Canal), though it was desilted by the Irrigation department last year. We will also conduct a study to frame proposals under the district administration’s anti-waterlogging initiative, Operation Breakthrough,” said Mayor V.K. Minimol.

The Corporation is also planning to place a proposal for cleaning and restoring the canal in front of the South railway station as a continuation of the ongoing Mullassery Canal restoration. Officials pointed out that this would make the Mullassery Canal project more effective in preventing waterlogging.

In a departure from convention, the Irrigation department, rather than the Corporation, was entrusted with desilting major canals last year. This year, the responsibility has reverted to the Corporation. The TP Canal, considered critical to preventing flooding, is currently choked with water hyacinth and clogged with waste along several stretches, according to Irrigation department sources.

The Corporation is also awaiting a no-objection certificate from the Public Works department (PWD) to undertake desilting of drains along the M.G. Road stretch between Madhava Pharmacy and South railway station. Shops and establishments along this stretch were inundated during the first showers last month.

During an inspection, Corporation officials reportedly found that several outlets within the drains had been sealed by the PWD when the stretch was tiled as part of a beautification drive. Only four outlets were located between Madhava Pharmacy and Padma Junction, while the rest remained sealed. The PWD is said to have refrained from desilting due to a lack of funds.

It is being pointed out that, at present, the drains have a depth of only 1.80 metres, while desilting could increase it to 2.50 metres. At a meeting convened by the District Collector last month, the Corporation insisted that either the PWD should carry out the desilting or issue a no-objection certificate permitting the Corporation to do so, since it would be held accountable in the event of flooding.