Desilting and Canal Management Progress

Ernakulam District Canal Management Update

1. Desilting Progress:

   • The Ernakulam District Collector reported that 85% of desilting works for city canals have been completed.
   • Priority desilting work is ongoing for the Thevara-Perandoor Canal.

2. Judicial Oversight:

   • A report was submitted to the Kerala High Court as part of a petition concerning a permanent management mechanism for the Thevara-Perandoor Canal.

3. Infrastructure Works:

   • The Collector has been directed to expedite works related to:
     • De-clogging the canal beside the KSRTC bus stand.
     • Expediting construction efforts at Mullassery Canal.
     • Repairing drains at Madhava Pharmacy Junction.

4. Financial Allocations:

   • The government has sanctioned ₹5.37 crore for completing the remaining 175-metre stretch of the Mullassery Canal.
   • Financial support has been allocated to the Kerala Water Authority, Kerala State Electricity Board, and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited for utility shifts related to the canal.

5. Upcoming Operations:

   • The commencement of the remaining works is anticipated to begin post-monsoon season.

6. Flood Mitigation Measures:

   • A new sluice gate with fiberglass reinforced plastic shutters has been constructed at Pandarachira by the Minor Irrigation Department to mitigate tidal flooding in the Indira Nagar area.
   • The maintenance of these shutters will be overseen by the Kochi Corporation.

7. Community Engagement:

   • A site inspection involving the Assistant Executive Engineer, District Collector, Amicus Curiae, and local residents was conducted to address waterlogging concerns near Chilavannur backwaters.

8. Water Flow Management:

   • Jetting work at 22 out of 23 railway culverts in the Atlantis to Vaduthala stretch has been completed to ensure better water flow.
   • The railway culvert at the KSRTC-Mullassery Canal junction has been cleaned.

9. Health and Sanitation Initiatives:

   • A health squad has been tasked with conducting waste removal operations bi-weekly to maintain cleanliness around the canal areas.

This summary encapsulates the significant ongoing efforts towards the management and improvement of canal systems in Ernakulam, alongside the judicial and financial frameworks supporting these initiatives.