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The incomplete Mullassery Canal restoration may continue to pose problems in the city this monsoon. | Photo Credit: H. VIBHU

The Kochi Corporation has directed the Minor Irrigation department to defer restoration of the remaining 175-metre stretch of the Mullassery Canal until after the monsoon.

Mayor V.K. Minimol has instructed that the work be postponed until around August, citing serious civic issues that could arise if the road is dug up and the canal blocked during the peak monsoon months. The department had been considering completing the ₹4.80-crore project using pre-cast technology within six to eight months of its commencement.

Ms. Minimol said the Corporation has earmarked ₹20 crore for pre-monsoon works, including ₹13 lakh each for the 76 divisions. In addition, ₹50,000 has been allocated to each division for urgent monsoon-related restoration works.

During a recent meeting, the Corporation had taken up the severe waterlogging threat faced by six divisions from Kunnumpuram to Palarivattom due to the ongoing national highway works at Edappally with the State government. The government has assured that the blocked drains will be restored by June 1, according to the Mayor.

She added that the ongoing metro rail works have caused severe problems in several divisions, with drains along many stretches clogged by slurry. The Corporation has tasked Kochi Metro Rail Limited with clearing the slurry and restoring the drains at multiple locations.

“The stretch in front of St. Martin Church remains one of the worst bottlenecks, reducing traffic on both sides to a crawl. With barriers in place, only a narrow stretch of road is available for vehicles, and that too is poorly surfaced and riddled with potholes. The situation is likely to worsen once the monsoon sets in,” she said.

The Corporation claimed that smaller canals and drains have been cleaned, while work to clear larger canals is under way. Eight of the 13 railway culverts have also been cleaned.

However, Opposition Left Democratic Front parliamentary party leader V.A. Sreejith alleged that monsoon preparatory works have derailed in several areas. “Cleaning of major canals and backwater mouths, crucial for the smooth drainage of rainwater from the city, has either not been completed or not even started. Though files related to monsoon preparatory works were cleared before the model code of conduct came into force ahead of the Assembly election, the governing committee failed to ensure proper oversight,” he said.

He further alleged that the Corporation had failed to effectively coordinate with various departments, a key requirement for preventing waterlogging in the city. The initial spell of rain, which caused waterlogging in several areas, was a grim reminder of what the city could face during monsoon, Mr. Sreejith said.

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