THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The 33mm rainfall on the first day of monsoon did not maroon the city as it used to in 2014-15 before flood mitigation efforts under Operation Anantha. However, as per officials, the flood mitigation efforts under the banner of Anantha were yet to be put to test as there were weak monsoons in 2016. “Last time when there was 70 mm rainfall, there was no flooding at Thampanoor as well as Pazhavangadi. Small issues remained at SS Koil road. Water logging happened in areas like Anayara, Ambalathara and Kamaleswaram due to hindrance to canals near bypass,” said a senior revenue official.
“This time, the minor irrigation department has not carried out major cleaning activities on many of the canals. So flooding can be anticipated at Kamaleswaram and Kunnukuzhy if monsoon shows its vigour,” official added. District Collector S. Venkatesapathy has recently submitted a proposal of over Rs 60 crore to state government for flood mitigation efforts to be taken up in city. A list of projects has been proposed by various agencies like KSUDP, Minor Irrigation and PWD.
PWD and KSUDP alone has submitted projects worth Rs 7.15 crore and Rs 27.75 crore and minor irrigation has submitted projects worth over Rs 30 crore. The KSUDP work involves fixing concrete box drains on drains from Pazhv-angadi, Power House Road and Thampanoor that untimately joins Pazhavangadi canal. The first phase of operation Anantha involved cleaning up of around 31 kilometres of drains in the capital city.
