KOCHI: Students of SCMS College kick-started phase-II of survey of the Thevara-Perandoor canal at Panampilly Nagar here on Tuesday, using the Global Information System (GIS).
The team of 80 Civil and Environmental Engineering students took up the survey voluntarily to facilitate the Corporation’s initiative to map the ten-km canal, as part of the climate change adaptation programme to be implemented in the city. The initial phase of survey, from the sea mouth of the canal, began last week.
“Kochi is vulnerable to flooding due to its peculiar geographical features. Blocked drains and canals are the prime causes of water-logging in the city. The primary constraint for development and rejuvenation of the canal system in the city is lack of proper database and survey records.
“Now, it is clear that no systematic and effective restoration/development of the city would be possible without a proper GIS-based map of the canals system,” said SCMS Water Institute director Sunny Director, under whose guidance the survey is being conducted.
Meanwhile, the Mayor on Tuesday visited the site at Panampilly Nagar where phase-II of the survey is currently progressing, to monitor the work. “This is an excellent model wherein a technological institution is extending voluntary support to a local self-government institution for carrying out a scientific developmental work. Data collected through the canal survey will play a crucial role in the development of the area,” said the Mayor during the visit.
The mayor was accompanied by Health Standing Committee chairperson Minimol V K, Town Planning Committee chairperson Shyny Mathew, Tax Appeal Standing Committee chairperson K V P Krishnakumar, Development Standing Committee chairperson Gracy Joseph and Corporation councillors.