The New Indian Express 20.11.2009
Restoring the canal
A point on the Amayizhanjan canal which is to undergo restoration.
After a long gap of 15 years, the Amayizhinjan canal, which has turned into a dump-pit of the city, is set to be restored. Desilting of the canal that stretches from Kannammoola to Akkulam will kick off next month. For the first time, the desilting will be mechanised.
A project submitted by the Irrigation Department for desilting and restoring the canal under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) has received sanction from the Centre. The tender procedures have been completed and is now awaiting technical clearance from the State Government.
Under the project, the five-km stretch of Amayizhanjan canal will be granted a new life: that is, if the two-phased project is systematically carried out with the support of City Corporation and the public. And the city will have a proper de-watering system in place.
The water-logging and flooding in Thampanoor, Pattom and Ulloor areas will be a thing of the past, once the desilting gets over. ``When the canal is desilted and restored, there will be more storage capacity, therefore the back-up would be strong. The flow of water to the sea would be smooth and the city would be free of such storage pockets on road,’’ said Maju Balakrishnan, Assistant Executive Engineer, Irrigation Department.
As part of the project, a deepening of one to two metres of the canal in full length from Kannammoola to Akkulam will have to be done. This would require a rebuilding of the structures and foundation of the canal in some places.
Three footbridges would have to be built in the Amayizhanjan canal at Nellikuzhy, Kakkode and Pulikode.
As of now, the canal does not have the capacity to draw water. With garbage heaps blocking the flow of rainwater and storage capacity reduced to nil at some places, the smooth entry of water from the canal to the sea at Poonthura has been deeply affected.
During last rains, the Irrigation Department had launched a massive cleanup of canals in the city. But aware of the fact that minor works would not bring a lasting solution, the department had submitted the proposal under JNNURM which is expected to incur an expense of Rs 6 crore.
The department had also noticed encroachments by the sides of Amayizhanjan canal, due to which they had demanded a re-survey of the canal area. The Collector is expected to give a detailed report on the encroachments soon, after which only the restoration work will be carried out.
