Thiruvananthapuram: Basic flood mitigation efforts such as clearing up of drains and construction of various culverts has begun this month as release of funds has begun. A list of projects has been proposed by various agencies like KSUDP, Minor Irrigation and PWD. Around Rs 2 crore has been released for cleaning up of Amayizhanjan and Chalai- Kuryathi Canal among others. KSUDP work involves fixing concrete box drains on drains from Pazhvangadi, Power House Road and Thampanoor that ultimately joins Pazhavangadi canal.
“Most of the works given are those requiring urgent attention. We will start early this year, so that flood mitigation efforts can be completed before the monsoon,” officials said. District Collector S Venkatesapathy recently submitted a proposal of over '60 crore to the state government for flood mitigation efforts to be taken up in the city. PWD and KSUDP alone have submitted projects worth Rs 7.15 crore and Rs 27.75 crore and Minor Irrigation has submitted projects worth over Rs 30 crore.
The scope of the new works includes anti-encroachment drives on Amayizhanjan canal from Kannamoola to Akkulam. Also drains around areas like Pattom, Ulloor, Pangode, Kaithamukku have to be rebuilt. Meanwhile, the first phase of operation Anantha involved cleaning up of around 31 kilometres of drains in the capital city but these efforts did not face the real test as the monsoon was weak in 2016.
