Experts suggest steps to avert flooding at Kammattipadam in Kochi
The Hindu
Call to straighten Thevara-Perandoor canal at railway crossing and shift KWA pipelines
The Irrigation department has come up with a slew of proposals to address the annual flooding at Kammattipadam in the city.
The remedial measures suggested include straightening of the Thevara Perandoor canal at the railway crossing in the area and shifting of three pipelines laid by the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) for supply of drinking water.
All the four low-lying culverts in the area have to be reconstructed and provided sufficient vertical and horizontal clearance, the department suggested.
The Kammattipadam area is surrounded by the Ernakulam-Thrissur main railway Line on the western side, triangular crossing of the railway line on the north, Thevara-Perandoor canal on the eastern side, and the Mullassery canal junction with the Thevara-Perandoor canal on the south. The area is thus isolated from the mainland, and inundation occurs regularly, noted the report prepared by the department on a Kerala High Court order.
The department team was led by R. Baji Chandran, Superintending Engineer, Minor Irrigation (Central Circle), Ernakulam.
The team of experts has suggested the construction of a new concrete drain to the Thevara-Perandoor canal from Kammattipadam to drain away floodwaters. A sluice with shutter arrangement shall be provided near the Mullassery Canal junction to minimise reverse the flow of water into the region, it was suggested.
The western side of Kammattipadam plays a vital role in draining out water from the area. A part of the concrete drain from Mullassery canal runs parallel to the railway track and ends nowhere. The drain shall be extended up to TP Canal on the northern side.
In the electoral battle for the North East Graduates Constituency of the Legislative Council, Congress MLC Chandrashekar Patil retained the seat by bagging 43,484 votes to defeat his nearest rival Amarnath Patil of the Bharatiya Janata Party by a margin of 4,651 votes. Amarnath Patil secured 38,833 votes.