THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: While flood mitigation efforts do find mention in the list of 100 projects proposed for Thiruvananthapuram by district administration, the officialdom says that the Operation Anantha will not continue as per the master plans prepared earlier. During the studies undertaken during the flood mitigation and anti-encroachment drive as part of Operation Anantha, the prime reason for flooding in capital was found to be the lack of a single agency to clean all storm water drains.
The plan was to form a unique administrative body that would oversee drains that are presently managed separately by PWD, KRFB, Irrigation and City Corporation. However, this is not in the priority list of administration after officials including District Collector Biju Prabhakar was transferred and former chief Secretary Jiji Thompson's tenure ended.
During the planned second phase of Operation Anantha, underground storm water collection tanks will be constructed in all government establishments from Secretariat area to Thampanoor. However, no deadline has been set to start or finish these works which do not find even mention in state budget.
Guardian minister of the capital, Kadakampally Surendran told DC that continuing the flood mitigation operation was very important but it will not be have a resemblance with Operation Anantha. Meanwhile, the works to create two breakwater structures worth Rs 27 crores at Veli is progressing and it is at least 2 years away from completion, said Irrigation department officials. Presently, during heavy rains, the water recedes from heart of city slowly as there is only 2 metre difference in elevation between Thampanoor and Parvati Puthanar.
