Boost for Operation Anantha

Thiruvananthapuram: Heavy pre-monsoon showers and the approaching rain have set alarm bells ringing for the government. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy  chaired a high- level review meeting on Monday to assess ‘Operation Anantha,’  the ongoing flood control  activities  taken up by Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson and Collector Biju Prabhakar.  The Chief Minister has roped in the Kerala Road Fund Board (KRFB) as the nodal agency of ‘Operation Anantha.’

The heavy rain that lashed the state capital in the past two days has  marooned almost all low-lying areas in the city raising serious concerns ahead of the monsoon.  Health Minister V.S. Sivakumar said that the Road Fund Board would  coordinate with various departments to ensure the timely completion of the drive which aims at clearing all the encroachments over the drainage network in the city.

He said the state government had granted Rs 10 crore for the flood mitigation work and more funds would be released if required. “Majority of the works are ongoing. The work for  the diversion of the canal from Thampanoor to Upplamoodu bridge would take off soon. Tenders have been floated and the work is estimated to cost around Rs 25 crore,” said Mr Sivakumar.

The Chief Minister will launch the cleaning operation of Parvathy Puthanar on Wednesday. “Sewage lines will be established on both side of the canal stretch so that waste water is not discharged into the canal,” he said.

‘Operation Anantha’ has helped mitigate flood to an extent. “We inspected the flood-affected area and water is receding  fast even at East Fort. The only concern is the SS Kovil Road,” he added.