Kozhikode: No planning results in flood

Kozhikode: Protest is fuming against the Municipal Corporation for its failure in completing the drainage cleaning and maintenance works in time which has resulted in massive water-logging in the city submerging the roads, forcing many traders at the ground floor at Mavoor road to shift things to safety and the pedestrians and two-wheeler riders to struggle out through the water, for many hours.

For the last many decades the city residents have been discussing the same issue but failed to bring out any concrete solutions.  According to Malabar Development Council chairman C.E. Chakkunni, the water-logging at key spots of the city has been a point of discussion since 1960s. ''Our rulers are careless about the administration and apart from allotting funds to contractors they are not at all monitoring the execution in a proper way", he added.

However many others are of the opinion that the water-logging in the low-lying areas across the city highlights the need for systematic and foolproof town planning with a long vision. It is true that the city had received hours long rains on Thursday. But a city in our region which is known for its  monsoon rains should have a better canal system, it was pointed out.   

V.Jayasree of Sthree Chetana,   who fought many a legal battles for the people living in the slums of the city, told DC that we have no proper town planning which results in hardships for city folks during monsoon. ''Our city receives copious rains.

Rains would definitely bring in soil and waste to the drainage which should be removed in time, she said. "To resolve the water-logging of Kattuvayal Colony near English Church we had to file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL)  and when many truck loads of soil and waste were removed, things improved", she added.