Waterlogging is back since the second phase of Operation Anantha is a non-starter. The canals which had been spruced up by razing down the encroachments during the operation have gone back to being waste bins
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Operation Anantha, the much-touted flood mitigation project, which was started two years ago by the district administration in the city has failed to achieve its aim. The canals which were spruced up by razing down the encroachments during the operation have gone back to being wastebins and the authorities seem to be least interested in reviving the project.
Last month the District Collector K Vasuki had promised to restart the project. But sources at the district administration said the preliminary proceedings are just limping ahead. The main reason for the deadlock is lack of coordination among the various departments. Since the project was earlier implemented under the direct supervision of the then Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson, it was implemented smoothly. At present lack of leadership has become a major hurdle in the project’s revival.
According to sources, there have been no positive developments regarding the project since Jiji Thomson retired. Also, the transfer of former District Collector Biju Prabhakar hit the project. Operation Anantha had been the pet project of Jiji Thomson and Biju Prabhakar. It’s been two years since the project was launched, but the city residents still have to bear the brunt of waterlogging once it rains. The situation might become even worse once the North-West monsoon sets in.
An example of the failure of the project is the Amayizhanjan canal. The canal was thoroughly cleaned in 2015, but its situation today belies the fact. A large accumulation of waste prevents the flow of water in the canal and this led to flooding during the recent rains.
The dire effect of not seeing the project through became evident when heavy rain lashed the city over past few weeks. The clogged canals led to flooding, once rainwater from the upper areas of the city came down to the low lying areas such as East Fort and Thampanoor.
The situation at Karimadam colony is no different. Gopakumar, a resident, said the tank which was constructed at the colony to mitigate flood is now filled with waste and this has compounded the problem. “Contagious diseases are ravaging the colony. But the officials are least bothered by our plight. The project was rolled out with much hype, but slowly the interest waned and the authorities have become deaf to our pleas,” he said.
According to reports with the District Disaster Management Authority, a major chunk of work remains unfinished. Sources in the Disaster Management Authority said, only around 200 tasks have completed in the past two years and the government has spent only Rs 18.22 crore in the project.
However, Revenue Department officers said they had carried out necessary tasks including pre-monsoon cleaning to prevent waterlogging. “We have done our maximum to prevent waterlogging. Flooding is happening due to blocks is some parts of the canal. Of course, waste will again accumulate in the canals even after we clean them. Hence, it is the responsibility of the public to not dump waste in canals,” a top revenue official said.
However, Sekhar L Kuriakose, member secretary of State Disaster Management Authority, told T’Puram Express the first phase of the project was completed during Jiji Thomson’s tenure and the collectorate has to take a decision on starting the second phase.
“We were part of the first phase and acted as an emergency response team for the project. In fact, it was mooted as on an emergency model. Now, we are no longer a part of the project as a stakeholder. In the last budget of the previous government, the second phase of the project had been placed under the Urban
Development Scheme. However, the call on implementing the project has to be taken by the Collectorate,” he said.
According to Jiji Thomson, the start of the second phase should not be delayed. He also raised apprehension over the delay.
“We had successfully completed the first phase. It’s true that the canals in the city are again getting clogged with waste. So the authorities concerned should ensure the drains are cleaned effectively before the monsoons. Hence, this delay is a huge setback for the government,” Thomson said.
Operation
Anantha
Trivandrum city particularly Thampanoor and East Fort areas face the problem of acute waterlogging for a very long time. There were several interventions, engineering programmes and technical studies undertaken on behalf of the government departments, and Trivandrum Corporation but a sustainable solution to the problem could not be found, although money was spent. Poor people who are living in the low lying areas of Chenkal Choola, Thampanoor, Karimadom, East Fort and Chalai suffer the loss of their lives and property in each rainy season. The flash floods during summer season worsen the situation for which people and the authorities are least prepared. There were demands to find a permanent solution of this problem as thousands of people suffer due to recurring flooding events.
Goals
Short-term
Cleaning and desilting of drains
Shifting of KWA pressure pipes across canals
Completion of box culvert at Thampanoor
Long-term
Restoration of water bodies
Widening of railway culvert at Thampanoor
Strengthening for solid waste management through Suchitwa mission in consultation with experts