A Central government delegation comprising Union Finance Ministry Adviser Ashu Mathu, Water Resources Commissioner T.S. Mehra and National Disaster Management Authority Joint Secretary Anil Kumar Sangi on Friday visited the flood-affected areas in Ernakulam to take stock of the damage caused.
They are part of a 11-member team led by Union Home Ministry Special Secretary B.R. Sharma. Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) P.H. Kurian and District Collector K. Mohammed Y. Safirulla briefed the Central team about the calamity and how it had affected the lives of people.
The team reached Ezhattumugham in the morning and visited the damaged canal bund, which was part of the Idamalayar irrigation project. The bund had caved in following the change in course of the river. Roji John, MLA, briefed the delegation about the damage caused to residential buildings and the collapse of some houses during the floods.
The team took stock of the damage caused at Kuthiyathodu in Paravur. They arrived there around 12 noon and were shown the cracks that had developed inside St. Xavier’s Church at Kuthiyathodu. Seven persons were killed when a portion of an old building near the church collapsed during the floods. Those killed were among the persons who had taken refuge inside the church following heavy flooding. The church had remained closed since then.
Land erosion
When the team arrived at St. Joseph Church at Kurumbanthuruthu, V.D. Satheeshan, MLA, gave them details on the extent of flood damage in the area. The land erosion had wiped out roads and seven cents of land in the area. The foundation of a residential building had been swept away by the deluge, he told the team.
The team later visited the Chendamangalam weavers’ cooperative society office and the weaving mills. The handloom sector sustained a loss of ₹7 crore, the MLA told the team.
Banana farmers in Mattupuram lost thousands of plantain trees. The team also visited a bridge at Chemmayam, which was destroyed after its four pillars were swept away by the floodwaters. Traffic along the bridge has been banned.
The team also took stock of the damage caused to Kerala Aqua Ventures International Limited at Kadungalloor, a joint venture of the State government and a private group, set up for the production and marketing of ornamental fishes. The aqua technology park was completely flooded. The disaster had caused a loss of ₹1.62 crore to the company. A loss of ₹34.5 lakh was also caused to the training centre located there, the team was informed.
