Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Illegal constructions demolished

Staff Reporter

Rs.6 lakh anti-flooding scheme for Pazhavangadi

DEBRIS: An earthmover clears an unauthorised construction that was blocking a drainage canal at Killipalam in the city on Tuesday. — Photo: S. Mahinsha

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Unauthorised constructions that were blocking drainage canals at Killippalam and Arannoor were demolished on Tuesday under the guidance of the task force committee for the Thiruvananthapuram East Assembly Constituency set up to coordinate flood-relief activities.

The demolition of the unauthorised constructions was done using earthmovers and was supervised by V. Sivankutty, MLA. Initially, a heavy slab placed over a drainage canal of the Minor Irrigation Department on the CIT Road, Killippalam, was broken open to restore free flow of storm water. According to the office of Mr. Sivankutty, a private party had `allowed' the construction of a bunk shop on the slab atop the canal. Local people had identified this as the primary impediment to the natural flow of water in the canal.

Later, the demolition team went to Arannoor where another private party had constructed a house over a drainage canal of the Public Works Department (PWD). The cellar of the house was so constructed that it blocked the canal. Demolition work at the site would continue tomorrow. On Thursday, the clearing of the drainage canals on either side of the Manacaud- Ambalathara road would be initiated.

Scheme drawn up

The PWD has proposed a Rs.6-lakh scheme for tackling flooding in the Pazhanvandi area. Under the scheme, the road leading from the SP Fort Hospital to Pazhavangadi would be raised and drainage canals provided on either side. The canals would be directly let into the Amayizhanchan canal. The existing drainage channels in the area would also be cleaned.

The proposals were given the nod at a meeting of the flood-relief task force committee for the Thiruvananthapuram West Assembly Constituency that was chaired on Tuesday by V. Surendran Pillai.

It was decided at the meeting that the problem of water-logging inside the Sreekanteswaram temple would be tackled by clearing the drainage canals on the side of the road leading from the temple to the Amayinzhanchan canal. Corporation councillors who took part in the meeting pointed out that various persons had encroached upon the canals over the past few years.

The meeting resolved to requisition earthmovers to clean the Kariyil canal. It was also decided to clean the Kannammoola, Pattom and Amayizhanchan canals in a similar fashion.

To tackle flooding in the Kaithamukku area, it was decided to construct a new drainage canal leading from the area to the Amayizhanchan canal by the side of the railway lines.

Pipelines to be laid

Mr. Surendran Pillai pointed out at the meeting that Bala Nagar, near the All Saints College area and Rajaji Nagar near the city airport were perhaps the worst affected areas in the city due to flooding. It was decided at the meeting that pipelines would be laid at five points beneath the All Saints -Kochu Veli road and drain off storm waters into a canal that would lead to an existing drainage canal by the side of the railway tracks and then on to the Parvathy Puthanar.

In places where construction of new drainage canals was not practically feasible, pumps would be pressed into service to flush out storm water. The local Corporation councillor would guide officials of various departments in the activity, the meeting decided.

RDO K.V. Mohan Kumar and Thiruvananthapuram Tahsildar Mohanan Pillai were among those who participated in the meeting.

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