The district administration’s demolition and eviction drive to prevent flooding of areas in and around East Fort continued on Sunday, with the canal leading from Chala via Karimadom and Kuriyathy areas towards the Killi River being cleared to a major extent.
According to District Collector Biju Prabhakar, the canal, an extension of the Amayizhanjan Canal, had been not just a debris dump yard of the capital but subject to widespread encroachment as well over the years.
The original width of the canal, which was 5.2 metres, had shrunk to 1.5 to 2 metres for most of the stretch.
Cooperation
Stating that the people of Karimadom Colony were extremely cooperating, even offering to have houses that blocked the free flow of water through canal demolished, Mr. Prabhakar said permanent structures were however left untouched on Sunday.
“We are moving ahead with maximum consideration given to the people,” he said.
According to Hari S. Nair, Additional District Magistrate, Sunday’s drive saw the canal being cleared up to a culvert near the Kuriyathy Government School, from where it would resume on Monday. An earthmover was used to clear the temporary structures, including portions of houses and the garbage that was dumped in the canal.
There were several spots where slabs were constructed across the canal and houses built on top of them, he said, indicating the magnitude of encroachment of the canal.
Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson, who reviewed the eviction drive at Manacaud, Karimadom and Attakulangara, said all encroachments on canals, which were leading to the regular flooding of the East Fort area, would be identified and cleared.
Before monsoon
The aim was to complete the job before the monsoon and to make the canals clear before the rains arrived.
Stating that the efforts would not be abandoned midway, the Chief Secretary remarked that the situation was such that a new canal would have to be constructed.
This would be done with minimum loss to the people in the area and in such a way that water from the Veli Lake would not flow back into the canals during tides, he said.
Other districts
There were demands from other districts as well for similar eviction drives.
The issue would be put before the State Cabinet, he added.