Kochi corporation to begin restoring Konthuruthy river width soon

Kochi: The city corporation has completed the eviction of residents from the shores of Konthuruthy river. The 16 families, which moved Kerala high court demanding enhanced compensation, withdrew their case and agreed to Kochi corporation's offer of Rs 14 lakh for each family, said corporation authorities.Meanwhile, the demolition of all houses has been completed and debris shifted to the solid waste treatment plant premises at Brahmapuram. The corporation distributed the first instalment of compensation to the residents who had agreed to move out. Of the 126 families, all except 16 families had informed the corporation that they were ready to move out after receiving compensation of Rs 14 lakh each. The local body authorities handed over the first instalment of compensation to those families, except the 16 families, in April. "Now, those families who moved the court demanding higher compensation too have agreed to accept our compensation offer of Rs 14 lakh. They withdrew the case demanding higher compensation. We will soon disburse the compensation to those families too," said deputy mayor Deepak Joy.As the demolition of houses has been completed, authorities can now start widening the river. Cochin Smart Mission Ltd (CSML) has been entrusted with the work of restoring the river's original width. The width of the river had shrunk to just three or four metres from the original 48m due to encroachment. Reduction in Konthuruthy canal's width had been causing waterlogging in nearby areas like Mattummel, Konthuruthy, Thevara and Ravipuram during monsoon. Though the issue existed for several decades, corporation authorities started thinking seriously about rehabilitation only after high court issued strict orders in this regard in 2020.