The Times of India     03.09.2012

Kozhikode corporation submits Rs 9.25cr project to prevent flooding in city

KOZHIKODE: A Rs 9.25 crore project by Kozhikode corporation to construct a storm water drainage which will prevent water clogging and flooding during the monsoon in the city is likely to get approval from the state level technical committee.

The project, included in the Asian Development Bank aided Kerala Sustainable Urban Development Programme (KSUDP), aims at checking water clogging and flooding on Mavoor road, Sreekanteshwaram temple and in front of the mofussil bus stand.

P Sethu Madhavan, consulting engineer with the WAPCOS-ISA Consortium entrusted with the implementation of the storm water drainage project said that the meeting of the state level technical committee would be held this week.

The plan is to connect all the three main drains in Kairali theatre road, Sreekanteshwaram temple and Rajaji road. The three drains will be joined on the western side of the Mofussial bus stand. A new culvert will be constructed on Mavoor road near crematorium road to drain the water to the Cannoli canal. A new drain is also planned in parallel to the existing drain at Mavoor road via Azhakkodi cross road connecting existing drain at Jafarkhan colony road to drain the water to the Cannoli canal. The drain in front of the mofussil bus stand will be connected to Mavoor road drain by constructing a channel. A culvert will also be constructed near the Sreekanteswaram temple. The proposal also plans to construct a100-meter drainage channel in front of the Coronation theatre.

A proper storm water drainage system has been one of the long-pending demands of the people in the city. The first phase of the work on improvement of the secondary drains and inlets to the Elathur-Kallai canal has been progressing in the corporation limit.

Flooding and consequent environmental problems are one of the main concerns of the people in Kozhikode corporation, which has one of the poorly maintained drainage systems.

The waste water drains out to the Canoly canal passing through the city. There are about 18 waste water outlets into the cannoli canal and ten outlets into the sea. Southern areas drain out to Kallai River and northern areas to Korapuzha and Poonurpuzha.

The clogged drainages cause water logging in the low lying areas located on the western side of Conoly Canal. Major city roads are passing through in these areas and causes traffic disruption during monsoon.