How rampant encroachment clogged a city waterway

  • | Thursday | 19th July, 2018

The revenue department should conduct a survey of canals in the city to identify the extend of encroachments. Rampant encroachment has shrunk the width to just six or seven metres. “Widespread encroachment on Karanakkodam thodu is one of the major reasons for flooding in the area. We can also opt for vertical growth which would leave more open space,” said May Mathew, former senior town planner, GCDA. KOCHI: Almost three decades ago, Karanakkodam thodu which connected Chilavannoor backwater near Kadavanthra and ends abruptly near St Albert’s Collge ground near Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, had a width around 40-50 metre.

KOCHI: Almost three decades ago, Karanakkodam thodu which connected Chilavannoor backwater near Kadavanthra and ends abruptly near St Albert’s Collge ground near Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, had a width around 40-50 metre. Rampant encroachment has shrunk the width to just six or seven metres. The result is that the entire area near Kaloor stadium, Stadium Link Road and IMA House would be flooded after a couple of hours rain.Besides Karanakkodam thodu, many small canals crisscrossing the area which used to absorb rainwater, have also been reclaimed. “Widespread encroachment on Karanakkodam thodu is one of the major reasons for flooding in the area. The entire region was paddy fields and wetland. Later, realtors and individuals started reclamation of the paddy field. Even the area where JNI stadium is located also was paddy field,” said K J Jacob, former opposition leader, Kochi corporation.Many builders have constructed apartments on either side of Stadium Link road. “Earlier, Karanaokkodam thodu would cross the Banerji Road near JNI metro station and would merge with Thonithodu on the other side of the road and water would flow down to the backwaters near Edappally ,” said K J Sohan, former mayor, Kochi corporation.According to experts in the field of water conservation, there should be people’s participation for proper maintenance of canals in the city. “All canals in the city have been encroached. The revenue department should conduct a survey of canals in the city to identify the extend of encroachments. There should also be measures to clear encroachments,” said Sunny George, director, Water Institute, SCMS college, Kalamassery. Steps should also be taken to desilt the canals, he added.Protecting these canal networks cannot be ensured by laws and regulations alone. “People’s participation is much more important,” George said.According to town planning experts, environmental protection should be ensured even while implementing development projects. “Stadia, apartments, individual houses, offices, commercial establishments can’t be avoided in a city. But when such projects are being designed, there should be mechanism to protect environment as well. Adequate drainage system should be ensured at the time of design itself. We can also opt for vertical growth which would leave more open space,” said May Mathew, former senior town planner, GCDA.

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