Chances of waterlogging high in Kochi

KOCHI: With the monsoon set to begin next week, Kochi is likely to witness yet another severe waterlogging season.

Lack of proper cleaning of small canals and drains coupled with rampant dumping of garbage into drainages may worsen the situation this rainy season.

The TOI team visited various parts in the city on Saturday and identified flood-prone areas.

Area near KSRTC bus station is one of the places where chances of waterlogging is high this time.

It is for avoiding waterlogging that the corporation started widening Mullassery Canal. Stormwater from many areas, including KSRTC bus terminal, is supposed to run off into Mullassery Canal. It was congestion in the canal that led to waterlogging in many places in the past. That’s why the corporation decided to widen the canal. But the work has progressed less than 40%.

“Major hurdle in the way of implementing the project is KSEB cables and KWA pipelines passing through the bottom of the canal. Though the work to remove KWA pipelines started, no decision has been taken on removing KSEB cables,” sources associated with the project said.

Kalabhavan Road near Ernakulam North, Changampuzha Park Metro station area, MG Road Metro station area, P&T Colony at Gandhinagar, Elamkulam and Panampilly Nagar are other places prone to waterlogging.

“To avoid waterlogging, cleaning of small canals and drains should start by March. But the corporation started such works only by May. Cleaning is only halfway through in many areas,” said opposition leader of Kochi corporation Antony Kureethra.

In Elamkulam and Changampuzha Park Metro station areas, waterlogging was reported during summer showers.

“A bund constructed across Chilavannoor backwaters was cited as the reason for waterlogging in the area. Following reports that the bund constructed for facilitating the work of a viaduct as part of a cycle track-cum-walkway project is causing waterlogging in the area, authorities demolished it. But the coconut stumps pierced into the bed of the backwaters are yet to be removed properly,” said Johnson K, a resident of Elamkulam.

Gandhinagar is an area which is lying on the shores of Thevara-Perandoor (TP) Canal. The level of water and land in the area are almost the same. Lack of adequate width and depth of TP Canal is a reason for the long-standing issue of waterlogging in the area.

Though waterlogging would be reported from the area every monsoon, authorities haven’t taken any concrete measures to address the issue.

The only ray of hope for residents this season is new machines procured for cleaning canals and drainages.

“We are set to sign an agreement with a Chennai-based firm which manufactures suction-cum-jetting machines and robotic excavators which can be used for cleaning drains and canals. Industries minister P Rajeeve will launch the facility on Monday,” mayor M Anil Kumar said.

The new machines are expected to be useful to clean drains and canals during the rainy season.


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