Connolly Canal clean-up drive to be launched today

Plastic waste to be removed in first phase

Connolly Canal has literally become a plastic dump post the floods. A scene from Sarovaram Biopark.

The recent flood in many parts of Kozhikode city is often attributed to the poor condition of Connolly Canal. The district administration and the Kozhikode Corporation have now joined hands with Niravu Vengeri to clear the canal of all the waste accumulated in it. Operation Connolly Canal will be launched on Tuesday. The project will be executed with the help of several voluntary organisations and residents’ associations.

In the first phase, the 11.2-kilometre stretch of the canal will be divided into eight zones and each zone will be assigned to a group of volunteers. Trained volunteers of Niravu will oversee their activities.

The first phase includes removing the plastic waste, which is blocking the flow of water, within ten days. In the second phase, algae, water hyacinth and shrubs will be removed. The drains that open into the canal will be closed using net to avoid further disposal of plastic waste. Biodegradable waste will be composted on the spot while plastic waste will be sent for recycling to plants run by Niravu.

Several environmental organisations and commercial establishments have come up in support of the project, offering to provide volunteers and cleaning equipment. The Association of Caterers will provide food for the volunteers. The Health Department will provide medical aid, if any.

The drive will be officially launched at 9 a.m. on Tuesday near the Sarovaram Bio Park. District Collector U.V. Jose said that the project would be completed in 30 days. The effect of the project would be visible once the mouth of the Kallai River is opened. Efforts were being made to revive the project to dredge the mouth of the river, the Collector said.

Mayor Thottathil Raveendran said that waste water was being dumped into the canal at 178 spots and that 30 public drains were opening into it. The Corporation has already issued notices to many houses, institutions and commercial establishments that were emptying their waste drains to the canal. Strict action would be taken against those who continue it even after the cleaning project, he said.

Meanwhile, eight monitoring committees will be set up comprising people’s representatives, environmentalists and local people to ensure that the canal is not being polluted again. Awareness campaigns will be held among the people who reside near the canal against further dumping of waste into the canal.

The canal is a part of the proposed National Water Way and it will be widened soon. District Collector U.V. Jose said that a width of 14 metres would be maintained at all parts of the canal.