THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Around a hundred waterlogged houses located at Kadakampally-Karikkakom wards, the home turf of tourism minister Kadakampally Surendran, remains a collateral damage of unscientific National Highway work. Since May 2016, moderate showers have been flooding several houses in both wards. On Sunday, also several people were displaced by the floods.
“Several culverts that once crossed the NH bypass were levelled during the widening work for Kazhakkottam-Karode highway. The few that were constructed beneath the widened highway were incapable to drain away stormwater," says Karikk-akom councillor Hima Siji.
'Koozhithodu', a canal that has been reduced to drain is a prime problem the area faces. A drain parallel to the highway that connects culvert and other natural drains can solve the crisis. However, this requires permit from state government as well as the NHAI.
