Akkulam bridge work cuts lake system into two

Thiruvananthapuram: The ‘unusual reclamation’ made to facilitate the construction of the new Akkulam bridge on the National Highway bypass has split the sensitive Veli- Akkulam lake systems into two different entities during the past 10 months. The twin lakes were connected by a 350 metre corridor earlier but as on Tuesday, only a canal measuring around 12 feet breaches through the reclamation and connects the sensitive lake ecosystem. The Irrigation department has sent an intimation to NHAI to remove the reclamation and bring the lake section back to its original depth.

NHAI officials claim that the lake was as shallow as only a few centimetres. It was not possible to take in barges for piling works. Hence a temporary reclamation was made to take in heavy machinery and manpower. However, sources in the Irrigation Department differ on the depth. “The lake was as deep as three to five metres and was navigable. That is why it comes under the Irrigation Department’s Inland navigation wing. It was shallow only in a very small section. That too was because of debris left over after construction of the first Akkulam bridge (in 2000),” a highly placed source said.

“NHAI promised to remove the reclamation soon after the work. Removal of the bund is necessary to prevent flooding in the city,” the source added. Assistant Executive Engineer Saheela Beevi said the irrigation department would  now dredge out the debris and silt below the old Akkulam Bridge. “We will float tenders to clear the mud under the old bridge. We were told that NH authorities would soon remove the bund under the recently constructed Akkulam bridge,” she added. The Akkulam lake which suffers from the explosive growth of weeds due to pollution has shrunk to around 1.15km square. Amayizhanjan canal and Parvathi Puthanar opens into the lake system that opens into the sea during monsoons.