With the monsoon strengthening, the poor drainage system and the heavy traffic chaos have left the people in a fix. The waste strewn and piled up on the road sides gets washed away into the gutters and canals leading to blockade of drains. This is eventually leads to water logging as the clogged gutters causes flooding.
Besides, in some areas of the city the drains are kept open without slabs posing a threat for the people. Vineet, a bus conductor says, “Because of the drainage, the traffic is unbearable. We have lost a lot of passengers because we could not reach the stops on time.”
Places like Menaka, Vytilla, Palarivattom, Boat Jetty, Edapally, Fort Kochi, and Ernakulam North are witnessing huge traffic block. “The waste that has been pulled out of the canals and sewage are dangerous. It is not only disgusting but also spreading diseases. It is high time that the Kochi Corporation officials intervene in the issue,” said Salim, an autorickshaw driver in the city.