Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Steps to prevent flooding in city

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government has initiated steps to prevent flooding in Thampanoor area in the capital city. The work, to be carried out jointly by various departments, would be completed by May 31, Public Works Minister Mons Joseph said here on Wednesday.

Mr. Joseph told a news conference that the works, forming part of the short-term measures suggested by the technical committee constituted for the purpose, would cost Rs.46.50 lakh. He said this was the first time that different departments were coming together with remedial measures to check the flood menace in the heart of the city.

The Public Works Minister said the works proposed to be undertaken in the short term were cleaning of drains surrounding the Ponnara Sreedhar Park at Thampanoor, removal of garbage from the Amayizhanchan canal from Bakery Junction to Pattoor, de-clogging of all major drains, removal of pipes that obstruct the flow of water through the Amayizhanchan canal, extension of the drain from Pazhavangadi-East Fort area up to the Thekkanamkara Canal and cleaning of the drain from Abhedhanandasramam to Pazhavangadi Ganapathi Temple.

The District Collector will coordinate the work. He will be assisted by officials of the Public Works, Irrigation and Water Supply departments and the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation.

The Minister said the high-level committee chaired by him had also zeroed in on a set of schemes. These were construction of an underground canal from Thampanoor to Vanchiyoor, a new canal from Thampanoor to Killi River, new culverts parallel to the railway culverts at Thampanoor and Uppidammood, water storage tanks in Ponnara Sreedhar Park and Putharikkandam maidan and at Manjalikkulam, widening of the canal from Thampanoor to Uppidammood, renovation of the Thekkanamkara Canal, recycling of water flushed out from the water treatment plant at Observatory and digging of rain pits in the catchment areas.

A three-member committee of senior IAS officers comprising Additional Chief Secretary K. Jayakumar, S.M. Vijayanand and Tom Jose has been constituted to study these proposals.

0The committee has been asked to submit its report in two months, the Public Works Minister said.

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