Govt. intervention sought for resumption of Mullassery canal work
The Hindu
KOCHI
The Mullassery canal restoration project, which was stalled for want of funds, may require government intervention to resume work.
The project that was conceived as a solution to flooding in the central business area of the city has remained suspended for months together as the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) could not remove the sewage pipes that were laid along the canal. The concrete pipes were laid through the canal some six decades ago.
Initially, there were no takers for the work when it was floated. The one who came forward to execute it when tenders were floated again had quoted 38% excess amount. It will require government intervention to clear the quote and resume the work. The government may convene a meeting of the officials concerned next week to discuss the issue, said a senior government official associated with the project.
Incidentally, the Kerala High Court had last week expressed dismay over the delay in completing the project and the lack of government patronage for it.
Meanwhile, United Democratic Front (UDF) councillors of the Kochi Corporation staged a protest on Fashion Street, the project site, on Monday.
M.G. Aristotle, Antony Kureethara, Sunitha Dixon, Antony Painuthara, V.K. Minimol, and Henry Austin and former councillor K.V.P. Krishnakumar spoke.
The councillors alleged that the authorities, including the Kochi Corporation, had failed to take the project forward and address the perennial issue of waterlogging in the city. They had earlier demanded that a detailed estimate and detailed project report be prepared before launching the project. The project cost has escalated significantly, they said.
“We are judges and therefore, cannot act like Mughals of a bygone era ... the writ courts in the guise of doing justice cannot transcend the barriers of law,” the High Court of Karnataka observed while setting aside an order of a single judge, who in 2016 had extended the lease of a public premises allotted to a physically challenged person to 20 years contrary to 12-year period stipulated in the law.
The High Court of Karnataka on Monday declined to interfere, at present, in the investigation against a Bharatiya Janata Party worker, who is among the accused persons facing charges of circulating obscene clips, related to “morphed” images and videos clips related to Prajwal Revanna, former Hassan MP, in public domain through pen drives and other modes.
The 16th edition of Bhoomi Habba was held on June 8, at the Visthar campus. The festival drew a vibrant crowd who came together to celebrate eco-consciousness through a variety of engaging activities, creative workshops, panel discussions, interactive exhibits and performances, all centered around this year’s theme: “Save Water, Save Lives.”