Thiruvananthapuram: Soon after the flood hit the city in mid-August, the NHAI authorities had began removal of earth bund below Akkulam Bridge that was hindering the flow of water from Akkulam to Veli portion of the lake for nearly two years. The officials claim that 97 per cent of the bund has been removed.
The soil bund was made to equip the construction of the new Akkulam Bridge on National Highway (NH) bypass, as a part of Kazhakoottam-Karode highway project. However, it had drawn flak from environmentalists. The reclamation was not removed even a year after bridge being opened to traffic.
In the wake of South-West Monsoon, the revenue officials who are also disaster management authorities send a strong message demanding the removal of bunds.
With this, the removal of debris and soil using proclainers had begun.
"Pondunes removed silt and has deposited it by the road towards a plot by NCC.
The soil is very loose and currently cannot be used at sites that require land-fill," said an official.
"The portion of Akkulam has been reinstated to how it was before the work began," he claimed.
Before the reclamation work, the twin lakes were connected at a 350-metre corridor. As per irrigation officials, the spot was as deep as three metres and was navigable.
It became unnavigable due to debris that was left over here after the construction of the first Akkulam Bridge in 2000. The second bridge was built recently as a part of Kazhakkoottam-Karode NH project. rains from August 14 had left many areas, particularly along Vellayani water logged.
