Conolly Canal development master plan to be ready in a month

Kozhikode: In a shot in the arm for the ongoing efforts to revive the

Conolly Canal

and the

Kallayi

river, which are facing threats from rampant pollution and encroachments, the district administration will prepare a development master plan for the 11.4 km canal stretch and two kilometre river stretch within a month.

The comprehensive survey conducted by the Kozhikode regional town planning office in association with

Pollution Control Board

(PCB) and students have found that around830 stakeholders including residents and businesses located on the banks of the waterways stretching from Elathur to Kothi estuary, were in favour of implementing steps to revive and beautify the stretch.

The one- day participatory survey which was conducted on September 5 had witnessed the participation of 500 people including students.

The report of the survey was presented to district collector U V Jose by regional town planner

K V Abdul Malik

at the collectorate on Tuesday.

The survey comprised three components namely a physical survey to document the width and land measurements of the canal banks, an environmental survey to identify pollution points and drains which discharged waste water to the canal and a socio economic survey covering the residents and stakeholders living along the banks of the stretch.

“The master plan will be prepared in association with Indian Institute of Architects and National Institute of Technology- Calicut (NIT-C) and it will form the basis for the revival and future development of the water stretch,” district collector U V Jose said.

He said that the survey revealed that there were 174 pollution points discharging waste water into canal on the stretch.

“We will ensure that polluted water is not discharged into the Conolly Canal. We will provide alternate solutions to those who are currently discharging pollutants to the water stretch and will ask them to implement it within a stipulated time frame after which will take strict action against violators,” he said.

Jose said that while the master plan would focus on reviving the Conolly canal to meet the specifications of the National Water Way, the plan would explore possibilities for alternate uses including tourism in the Kallayi river stretch. He said that the district administration would also examine options to rehabilitate the traditional wood- based industries located on the river stretch.

The survey found that there were 97 industries on the banks of the canal and river stretch of which 54 were wood based units. Also there were 501 residences and 208 commercial establishments and seven hospitals.

Jose said that focus would be to implement the canal development project even while ensuring that the interests of all legal land holdings and residences on the banks are protected.

M S Sheeba, chief environmental engineer, PCB, P Ajith Kumar, executive engineer, irrigation department were present on the occasion.

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