The reconstruction of the 829 metre-long Mullaserry canal and related works were included in the third phase of Operation Breakthrough.
| Photo Credit: FILE PHOTO
A meeting chaired by Mayor M. Anilkumar and attended by District Collector N.S.K. Umesh took stock of Operation Breakthrough, a project aimed at resolving inundation in Kochi city, and issued an ultimatum to the Irrigation department to complete the Mullassery canal restoration works by June.
The schedule of works till May was also approved at the meeting, which expressed dissatisfaction over the delay on the part of the department in completing the restoration process, which had been on for the past three years. A directive was issued to the department to avoid further delay. The restoration work began with an initial investment of ₹3.50 crore by the Kochi Corporation.
It was observed that the project got delayed despite the sanctioning of revised investments multiple times. The reconstruction of the 829 metre-long canal and related works were included in the third phase of Operation Breakthrough. The pipelines of the Kerala Water Authority in the canal and the excavation limits and sewage connections crisscrossing the canal continued to hinder the work, said Irrigation department officials.
Instructions were issued to complete the tender formalities for the cleaning up of Perandoor canal using ₹10 crore sanctioned by the State government for Operation Breakthrough before the onset of the monsoon. The tender procedures for the annual cleaning of canals and drains within the Corporation limits are in the final stages. The superintending engineer said that the desilting of canals would be completed before May subject to approval of the Corporation council.
The tender for the ₹10.95-crore proposal for desilting and beautifying the stretch of Chilavannoor canal between Elamkulam and the Kaloor stadium is also in the final stages. This was included in the canal renovation project funded by Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) on a special request by the Mayor. Kochi Metro Rail Limited, which has been identified as the executing agency, has been asked to complete the project before June.
Railway officials informed the meeting of the difficulty in cleaning culverts. It was decided to convey it to the Kerala High Court and to undertake follow-up measures based on the court’s directions.
It was observed that flooding in the city could be controlled to a certain extent using high-power pumps. A pump each has been installed at Pharmacy Junction and KSRTC Junction. Tender procedures have been completed for buying two more pumps, one of which will be installed at Kaloor Journalist’s Colony.
The Public Works department said flooding could be addressed only by ensuring a proper slope for drains along MG Road. The department has sanctioned a tender for ₹1.10 crore for replacing the damaged slabs between Pharmacy Junction and KPCC Junction.
Published – January 31, 2025 01:47 am IST