Storm drains prove futile during rain in Thiruvananthapuram

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Thampanoor–East Fort region faced one of the worst flooding in recent times on Tuesday raising serious doubts on the ongoing storm-water drain project proposed as the ultimate solution to combat recurring flooding in the region.

Various state governments have spent over Rs 200 crores on short term and long term flood mitigation work but all of them had gone in vain.

Kerala Sustainable Urban Development Project (KSUDP) — the agency which has undertaken the work — claimed that it would be completed within few weeks.  But the problem remain the same.

The state government had sanctioned Rs 10 crore for declogging and widening of the Amayizhanchan canal to avert flooding at Thampanoor and KSUDP has already spent the entire amount.

Health standing committee chairperson Pushpalatha said that the drainage network had to be cleared to ensure smooth flow of the flood water.

“We have launched pre-monsoon activities in some wards already. The problem is that all other departments including PWD, minor irrigation and major irrigation should also carry out cleaning work simultaneously to avoid flooding as all networks are linked. So a meeting will be held to plan an effective cleaning drive ahead of monsoon,” she said.

Clogged drainage system and rivulets running in the heart of the city have turned the state capital into highly flood prone area. Crores of rupees spent on this over the years have gone in vain. However, KSUDP authorities claimed that flood occurred because of the ongoing canal renovation.

“We had blocked the canal at Thampanoor to facilitate the work near the coffee house which resulted in flooding,” said the official.