The Kochi Corporation on Tuesday sought more time to complete the construction work on the drainage at Panampilly Nagar.
The Corporation filed the statement on a petition by P A Peter seeking contempt of court action against the authorities.
According to the petitioner, the corporation had not taken any steps to implement the High Court order.
The court had directed the corporation to complete the abandoned drain construction project.
The drain would help solve the flooding in Perumanoor, Ravipuram and Panampilly Nagar.
The court directive to finish constructing the drain has remained unimplemented for the past one-and-a-half years, the petitioner submitted.
The Kochi Corporation submitted that for the completion of the work in a satisfactory manner, at least three to five months are required.
The Cochin Corporation had made all arrangements to start work immediately after approval from project director of the Kerala Sustainable Urban Development Project, it said.
It also submitted the approval is expected before June 10 and work could be started within 10 days of the receipt of the approval.
It was submitted that the existence of High Court direction and urgency had been duly informed to the office of the KSUDP project director.