The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Panel comes up with solution to flooding

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Saturday, Jul 19, 2008
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Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Panel comes up with solution to flooding

Special Correspondent

Does a survey
of flood-prone Thampanoor,
East Fort

Thiruvananthapuram: A committee of experts set up by the Institution of Engineers to resolve recurrent flooding at Thampanoor and East Fort has recommended periodic cleaning of drains, construction of rainwater harvesting systems in public places and steps to check dumping of garbage into canals.

The committee comprising N.P. Govindankutty and B.F.H.R Bijli, former Chief Engineers, KWA, K.G. Chandrasekharan former member (Civil), KSEB, G. Raveendran Nair, former Chief Engineer, Irrigation Department, and M.N. Rajeevan, former Deputy Chief Engineer, KWA, carried out a survey of the flood-prone areas and also proposed covering the stormwater drainage canals with concrete slabs.

The survey revealed that the canals are blocked due to encroachments on the banks and into the canals as well as garbage dumped by residents and commercial establishments. Raw sewage discharge has polluted the canals while poor maintenance has resulted in damaged sidewalls and beds, impeding water flow. Narrow culverts too pose bottlenecks.

Regular desilting

The panel has proposed regular desilting of the canal at Thampanoor and installation of silt traps upstream of the culverts. Repair of the canal bed and sidewalls and construction of an additional culvert under the railway track to increase the carrying capacity are other proposals. Another suggestion is the construction of a storage tank upstream of the culvert and installation of pumps to drain water to downstream side.

The panel found that the flooding in the East Fort area is largely due to inadequate drainage system and backflow from the Pazhavangady Thodu as well as the lack of properly designed drains. It proposed reconstruction of roadside drains along Padmavilasam and MG Road, and realigning the drain along the MG Road at the city bus station and Ganapathy temple area to discharge into the Thekkanamkara canal.

Artificial lake

The report proposes construction of an artificial lake in the Putherikandam Maidan that can store some of the floodwaters. It also recommends remote controlled operation to remove the sand bar at Veli when the level of water in the Aakulam lake rises due to floods.

The panel has stressed the need for an awareness campaign among residents in keeping the drains clean.

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