Most Anantha works move at snail’s pace

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Even if Trivandrumites are to overlook the legal tussle over the demolition of Rajadhani building that delays Operation Anantha, the other works related to this flood mitigation project have been progressing at a snail's pace - in bits and pieces.

The district administration had set a varied deadline for each section of Operation Anantha.

Even if everything goes according to the plan, each of this works would take between one month and two years for completion as against the claims by many politicians.

In the starting point of the drive at Pazhavangadi, a two-feet wide concrete canal was constructed for around 100 metres behind District Homeo Hospital.

The work remains to be complete from the hospital to Abhedanandashram and the small section here cost Rs 2.98 crore.  

After a few metres, the drain has been completed from Padmatheertham pond to Karthika Kalyanamandapam area where the work again is still progressing at a snail's pace.

The work here will be completed in one month time, as per district collector Biju Prabhakar.

“In Attakulangara, near new Ramachandran Textiles, we have completed side wall construction of Thekanamkara canal on one side. The work can continue only at a slow pace here as it requires inter-department coordination and relocation of underground assets,” said Biju Prabhakar.

Meanwhile, few hundred metres from here, the construction of side wall for the canal has not progressed on Kuryathi canal.

“Elsewhere, the work on old drain has been completed around Sreekumar Theatre, Thampanoor. Meanwhile, the nearby culvert on mosque lane will be constructed by Septemeber 23. Next will be the tendering for construction of the canal on either side of Manjalikulam Road,” said Biju Prabhakar.

The district administration admits that the flood here cannot be averted even after the winter as several new projects have to be executed here including the clearing of the culvert under railway lines.

A new duct will have to be constructed under the road from Model school to Thampanoor now. Similarly, the government is yet to appoint a consultancy to make rainwater harvesting tanks in government offices.

The plan to reinstate the Manjalikulam pond has been completely aborted owing to protests. As per Mr Prabhakar, the Rs 27 crore Veli breakwater project vital for flood alleviation is at least two years away from completion, and only technical sanction has been given for this.