Kochi corporation streamlines dewatering measures to tackle flooding

Kochi: As Kochi city witnesses recurring waterlogging issues even in a short spell of rainfall, corporation and fire force have come up with various preventive measures, including maintenance and streamlining of dewatering mechanisms. In the wake of pre-monsoon rains, workers deployed by corporation have started to examine operational condition of pumps.Of the 23 pumps, four are Petti and Para installed at central, Edappally and Vyttila zone limits. Rest of the 19 are diesel-and electricity-powered pumps, owned by corporation and fire force. Petti and Para is a traditional and indigenous dewatering mechanism that uses a cylindrical vessel (Para) with a fan and a rectangular box for the purpose. Highest number of pumps are situated in central zone, with 11, including in places such as Mullassery Canal Road, Vivekananda Road, Judges Avenue, Ambedkar Colony and Madhava Pharmacy Junction, where flooding is a persistent issue.Besides these, when flooding becomes severe and existing ones become inadequate, local body and fire force take pumps on rent for dewatering purposes. Corporation officials said that pumps are effective in low-lying areas where flooding is a major headache for residents."As difference between land surface of Kochi city and sea level is only around 40cm, installing pumps is not a permanent solution. Hence, we cannot dig deep into ground as water will come up after a few metres," said an official.Pumps are operated and maintained by contractors. With demand rising, corporation has proposed buying more motor pumps in the budget.There were only four Petti and Para in the local body. Later, it began to install motor pumps at various locations. Of these, the highest-capacity motor pump is on Vivekananda Road, with a capacity of 35 HP.Corporation installed pumps in places where floodwater would take days to recede. Meanwhile, fire force has kept four pumps in reserve for emergency use.Experts say that a city like Kochi, where rising sea level is a challenge, needs motor pumps to mitigate flooding issues. "Issue is that drain often get blocked due to dumping of waste. Pumps are only temporary solutions. Corporation should carry out pre-monsoon cleaning drive, improve drainage system and take steps to address the issue of waste dumping in public places," said Manoj M G of Advanced Centre for Atmospheric Radar Research, Cusat.