Kozhikode city’s stormwater projects likely to get a boost

Completion of proposed dredging work in Kallayi river crucial to their success

Many of the city’s stormwater management projects are expected to get a boost with the completion of the proposed dredging work, recently approved by the Ministry of Water Resources, covering nearly five-kilometre stretch of the Kallayi river. The Irrigation Department will carry out the dredging works. The department will submit a revised estimate for obtaining speedy technical sanction for the project. For many years, various local action committees have been waiting for the project, which was considered the best option to meet the increasing stormwater management challenges. Officials with the Town Planning Department hope that the dredging work will increase the flow of the river and its capacity to carry stormwater during rainy seasons. An official with the Irrigation Department said the proposal for dredging between Kaduppini and Kothi stretch was submitted several years ago to the government for approval. “One of the main issues was the discarding of dredged silt from the area. Citing environmental issues, dumping it deep inside the sea had been opposed by many people,” he pointed out.