Survey work by a special task force to assess the width of Edappally canal is yet to make any progress due to inadequate surveyors.
The task force, comprising representatives of Revenue Department, Survey and Irrigation Department, was formed by the District Collector in the wake of allegations of canal encroachment by Lulu Mall. The task force was expected to complete the survey in a month’s time.
“We require six to eight surveyors for completing the process. We have already requested the respective authorities to provide us with adequate number of surveyors so that we are able to carry out the works,” District Collector P I Sheik Pareeth told ‘Express’. The survey is also necessary to evacuate encroachers along Edappally canal to facilitate Kochi Metro Rail Limited to make the canal navigable so as to develop a feeder system to Kochi metro rail.
Representatives of Kochi Corporation, neighbouring municipalities, including Kalamassery and Thrikkakara, and Kochi Metro Rail Limited are among the others who are coordinating the survey. The survey also aims at identifying the boundaries of the 10.5km-long canal and demarcate them with boundary stones.
The Edappally canal, which was once navigable, was earlier called Thukalan kuthiya thodu and was mainly used to transport goods from Ernakulam market and raw materials for construction to other parts like Aluva. But the major headache before the authorities will be evacuation of encroachers.
The canal has been allegedly encroached by some big builders, commercial establishments and realtors and this will make the district administration take some extra measures for completing the evacuation proceedings.
The canal, in many areas, has an average width of 25 to 30 metres.