The Campaign For Economic and Most Appropriate Transport System for Kochi (CEMATS-Kochi) has demanded that immediate action be taken by the authorities to clean up Edappally canal to make water transport possible through this.
The meeting convened by the organisation recently has asked to evict the encroachments along the canal. “The allegations about the encroachment about Lulu mall have to be probed by an expert committee.
The canal has to be beautified by constructing walkways and resting places. A task force has to be formed to carry out the project,” the organisation demanded.
V M Michael, convener, CEMATS-Kochi said that a detailed investigation by an apex body is needed to find out the cleaning works being done by the Public Works Department six months ago. “To mitigate irregularities, representatives from local bodies and voluntary organisations have to be included in the Edappally canal renovation committee,” he added.
The other demands put forward by the CEMATS are development of parallel and link roads, construction of Palarivattom flyover and building of walk-way in Kakkanad road between Chembumukku and Padamugal.
The meeting protested against the move to hand over 35-acre government land in Thrikkakara to DMRC, as part of the construction of Metro Rail, for constructing a mall. Jijo Chinganthara, Johnson P John, K P Shivaraj, K N Rajan, T Raveendran, Thomas J Morangalil, T K Muhammed, Varghese Malamel, Issakki Achari, P P Thomas and Saju J Vallyara also spoke.