Operation Anantha put to test; drains fail Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram: With many of the recommendations in the second phase operation Anantha not being implemented, the seasonal flooding resumed in the capital. Most important of the recommendation by the flood mitigation operation started in 2015 was the creation of the Centralised Waste Management authority.
“Though the pre-monsoon clean-up was done this year, during the dry patch in the monsoon, waste accumulated in the drains. The waste including plastic covers slowed down the flow on Amayizhanjan canal on Thursday as it did in earlier days,” said a revenue official who was part of operation Anantha.

Similarly, the volume of water that flowed from higher elevation areas of the Secretariat could not be drained out swiftly by the Amayizhanjan canal.
“Presently, the water from the Secretariat area to Thampanoor moves to East Fort and reaches Pattoor. Anantha envisaged a direct drain from the Secretariat to Amayizhanjan canal at Pattoor to prevent all the water reaching east fort,” the official added.

Similarly a new drain was to be constructed to carry water from the Arts College to Killiyar via DPI. Areas such as Yamuna Nagar and Karimadom that inspired Operation Anantha also were affected on Thursday. The Karimadom tank which had to act as a flood balancing mechanism was still filled with silt and garbage. Affected areas such as Kamaleswaram sit close to Kariyil canal which still has to be desilted. A handful of encroachments of Kariyil canal were removed during Operation Anantha.