Team finds big guns on encroached land

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Survey procedures are progressing fast at the Fort region as revenue authorities expose more encroachments over the Thekkanamkara Canal – the century old storm water canal constructed in 1940.

Chemmanur Jewellery, Jayalakshmi Jewellery, Lekshmi Jewellery and Park Rajadhani are among the encroachers marked by the revenue authorities.  

Excavation continued in full swing inside the premises of Bhajanavilasam Palace premises behind the Park Rajadhani Bar on Monday.

The revenue wing has excavated and unearthed the age-old drainage system which is lying almost 15 feet underneath. As many as seven workers manually dug to find the century old storm water drain which was constructed several decades ago to pump out storm water from the city.  

“We have been asked to mark the canal stretch, find the encroachment and submit a report to the government. Once the survey procedures are over, we will start issuing notices and knock down the structures. We have been asked to mark the underground canal and construct barriers on both sides. Several small drains from various part of the city meet at the

Thekkanamkara Canal which begins at Karimpanal Arcade at East Fort. The Thekkanamkara canal is 500 metre long and it reaches Vazhapally,” said the revenue official.  

The official said that survey procedures were taking more time as JCBs or other equipment could not be used for excavation. “This is a heritage zone and we have to do this work manually. We cannot bring in heavy equipment without permission from the Archaeology Department. Tomorrow we have called in more workers for digging. Around 20 workers will be used,” said the official.