The New Indian Express 13.01.2010

Work crawling at a snail’s pace

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Despite conciliatory talks by the area’s MLA, the work on the Vellayambalam – Sasthamangalam road could not be resumed in full vigour even on Tuesday. The construction of drains on either side of the road by the Kerala Road Fund Development Board has been stalled following strong protests from a group of residents on one side of the road alleging that it may harm their houses.

According to the original schedule, the project was to be completed on December 31, last year. The extended deadline of January 31 also can’t be met with the ongoing pace of work.

The residents’ associations, including those of Panicker’s Lane, Mangalam Lane, Bhagavathy Lane, Temple Junction and Vellayambalam, on one side of the road have raised their voice against the revamping of the natural drain that exists on their side to redirect the rainwater from the surrounding areas through the newly-constructed drains, which, after passing through these residential areas, eventually join the Kochar river.

President of Panicker’s Lane Association, T. Devan Nair, told ‘Expresso’ that this project might cause flooding, which would damage the houses in the area, most of them situated on a lower plane. The drain is very narrow and shallow to contain the large amount of water that would come from other parts, he said.

“We have formed a co-ordination committee to act against this unscientific move. We have already forwarded complaints to the Chief Minister, PWD Minister, PWD Principal Secretary and the Road Fund Board project engineer’’, Devan Nair, who is also the convenor of the co-ordination committee, said.

The founder president of Panicker’s Lane Association, P.V. Kurup, said that instead of taking an extended route through the residential area, the drain can be constructed alongside the main road from Vellayambalam to Sasthamangalam, which would be very cost-effective also. If the present project has to be implemented, the existing drain has to be dug open to increase its depth, which would prove very costly.

“We had brought this alternative plan to the notice of MLA Sivankutty in a meeting held on December 29. He had agreed to look into the matter seriously’’, said Kurup.

Secretary of the residents’ association of Mangalam Lane, Ayyappan, said that though an effective system to drain away the rainwater was essential, it should be done without causing any difficulty to all the residents’ associations on both sides of the road.

Meanwhile, the ward councillor Anandachandran, who is facing criticism from the residents of Panicker’s Lane for his alleged double standards on the issue, blamed the officials for their unwillingness to change the project according to the alterative plan proposed by the residents’ associations.

The Kerala Road Fund Board authorities, however, said that there was no need for the residents to fear. The natural drain through the particular side of the road was chosen as it is the lowest plane in the area and hence water could be directed to Kochar river easily. The construction of drains was almost over and only the revamping of the particular drain was remaining, said the project engineer.